OET interlinear COL 1:18

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

αὐτός ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ σώματος, τῆς ἐκκλησίας

he he (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί αὐτός ἐστίν ἡ κεφαλή τοῦ σώματος τῆς ἐκκλησίας ὅς ἐστίν ἡ ἀρχή πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν ἵνα γένηται ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτός πρωτεύων)

Paul speaks of Jesus’ position over the church as if he were the head on the human body. As the head rules and directs the body, so Jesus rules and directs the church. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable expression or express the idea with a simile or in plain language. Alternate translation: [he rules and directs the church]

ἡ ἀρχή

the the beginning

The word beginning could refer to: (1) the origin of something; here, the origin of the church. Alternate translation: [the origin of the church] or [the one who started the church] (2) a position of power or authority. Alternate translation: [the ruler] or [the one with authority]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν

firstborn from the dead

Paul describes Jesus’ resurrection from among the dead as if someone gave birth to him as her first child. This figure helps us to see that this new life was not like his old life, because he can never die again. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [the first one to come back to new life] or [the first person to permanently rise from the dead]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

τῶν νεκρῶν

the dead

Paul is using the adjective dead as a noun in order to describe a group of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: [the dead people]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ἵνα γένηται ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτὸς πρωτεύων

in_order_that ˓may˒_become in all_‹things› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί αὐτός ἐστίν ἡ κεφαλή τοῦ σώματος τῆς ἐκκλησίας ὅς ἐστίν ἡ ἀρχή πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν ἵνα γένηται ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτός πρωτεύων)

This clause could identify: (1) the result of Jesus starting the church and coming back from the dead. Alternate translation: [with the result that he is first among all things] (2) the purpose of Jesus starting the church and coming back from the dead. Alternate translation: [in order that he might be first among all things]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

γένηται ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτὸς πρωτεύων

˓may˒_become in all_‹things› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί αὐτός ἐστίν ἡ κεφαλή τοῦ σώματος τῆς ἐκκλησίας ὅς ἐστίν ἡ ἀρχή πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν ἵνα γένηται ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτός πρωτεύων)

Paul here describes Jesus as if he were first to do or be something. This does not refer to time or sequence, but rather it refers to importance. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a comparable expression or plainly. Alternate translation: [he himself might become the most important person in all creation] or [he himself might be greater than everything and anybody else]