Biblical Concept: Christ First
The parentheses are mine.
NAS Colossians 1:15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Christ is the First of all creation, because He is the Creator of all creation and a Participant in it.)
NAS Colossians 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. (Christ is First in the Church and in everything pertaining to it, because He died and rose for the Church.)
NAS Colossians 2:10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; (Christ is First Authority in the universe.)
NAS Colossians 2:19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. (Hold fast to the First authority in the universe.)
NAS Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (Christ is First because He equals life and glory.)
NAS Ephesians 1:10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. In Him (Christ is First, as He is the Sum of all things.)
NAS Ephesians 1:22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, (Christ is First in the Church and in everything pertaining to it.)
NAS Ephesians 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, (Putting Christ First equals growth.)
NAS Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. (Christ is First in the Church because He is the Savior.)
NAS 1 Corinthians 15:57 but thanks be to God, who
gives us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ. (Christ is First because He is the Victor over
death. See the context.)
NAS Hebrews 1:6 And when He again brings the first-born into the world, He says, " AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM." (Being the Head of creation equals worship worthy.)
NAS Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Christ is seated First in heaven.)
NAS Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, (Christ is First from the dead and Ruler over any authority.)
NAS Revelation 1:17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, (Christ First is everything.)
NAS Revelation 2:4 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (Christ is First in the Church and in everything pertaining to it, to This hold fast.)
NAS Revelation 22:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Christ First is everything.)
NAS Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Paul’s application of Christ First.)
Note also the Biblical Concepts: Through Christ and In Christ and Concentrate on Christ and All for Christ.
Note the following Christ Theorem: Through Christ = In Christ = Concentrate on Christ =
All for Christ = Christ First.