Colossians 1:15

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

-Colossians 1:15 (ESV)

What does it mean that Jesus is "the image of the invisible God" and what does it mean that he is "the firstborn of all creation"?  I think these two are linked somehow.  I take that from the way the verse is structured with the comma in the middle of it.  Yes, I know that when it was originally written, it wasn't written in the English language.  However, this is my limitation and from my understanding and careful study of the verse, that is my conclusion.  I think that these two things are somewhat linked and somewhat describing similar, if not, the same thing.  More importantly, we must ask what they mean.  What does it mean to be "the image of the invisible God" and what does it mean to be "the firstborn of all creation"?  Lucky for us, there is the word "for" at the beginning of the next verse.  This link shows us that immediately following verse 15, Paul goes on to help us understand what he means by saying that Jesus is "the image of the invisible God" and "the firstborn of all creation".  Unfortunately, some people are too quick to see verse 15 and conclude that Jesus is not God since he is merely "the image" of God.  Perhaps some might conclude that Jesus was created or separate from God because he is described here as "the firstborn of all creation".  Let's hold on to our hats and look deeper into what Paul is saying here about Jesus.  Though I am no expert in any sense of the word, I do like the Amplified version and perhaps a read over of this might help us in our understanding of this passage.  It doesn't hold all the answers, but it's still enjoyable for me to read.  The word is so rich and beautiful, but it still holds many mysteries.  We will read it for a lifetime and still find God's truth surprising us again and again.

He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.

-Colossians 1:15 (AMP)