Bible Truth or Tradition: Does “all things” in 1 Corinthians 8:6 and Colossians 1:16 refer to the heavens and the earth or the entire universe?

"yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things (ta panta) and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things (ta panta) and through whom we exist." 1 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬

"For by him all things (ta panta) were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him." Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬

Last week we looked at Hebrews 1:2 and how Wayne Grudem interpreted the meaning of "world" from page 200 of his Book "Systematic Theology": "....then he created all things (Gen. 1:1; John 1:3; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2).

It is interesting that the phrase "all things" (Greek: ta panta) is used thirty some times in the New Testament and rarely means all of creation, the heavens and the earth or the entire universe. Many theologians, like Wayne Grudem, interpret "all things" in 1 Corinthians 8:6 and Colossians 1:16 to be "the heavens and the earth." But, that is not what is written.

"For by him all things (ta panta) were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things (ta panta) were created through him and for him." Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬

Here, things in heaven and things on the earth are not the same as the heavens and the earth even though they sound similar.

"The God who made the world and everything in it,....since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything (ta panta).... because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭24‬-‭25‬, ‭31. Even here where "ta panta" is used in the context of the creation of the world and everything in it, it does not mean the creation of the heavens and the earth or the entire universe at the end of verse 25.

The context determines the meaning, and it is also clear from this passage that God who created the world and everything in it, is distinguished from the man he appointed to judge the world in righteousness. That man is the risen, exalted Jesus.

According to Matthew 28:18. God gave Jesus all authority: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

In Ephesians 1:10, 20-23 "all things" (Greek: ta panta) occurs twice: "as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things (ta panta) in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him. Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."

The context here is amazingly similar to Colossians 1. Please read for yourself and let scripture speak for itself.

We know from the context that Psalm 8:6 was written about Adam: "You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet." Hebrews 2:5-9 explicitly applies this passage to the risen, exalted Jesus. Ephesians 1:20-23 and 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 also include "all things" and both draw from Psalm 8:6 applying it to Jesus:

"Then comes the end, when he (Jesus) delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put all things (ta panta) in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things (ta panta) are put in subjection," it is plain that he (God) is excepted who put all things (ta panta) in subjection under him (Jesus). When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all." 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭24‬-‭28‬

In 1 Peter 3:22 we see similar language: "who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him."

There seems to be a common theme in the Bible about the redemption of man and reconciliation of "all things" to God through the risen and exalted Jesus Christ.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this (ta panta) is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself.... that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself...." 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭19‬

It is definitely not clear in 1 Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:16 and Hebrews 1:2 that Jesus created the heavens and the earth. What is clear from the scope of Scripture, is that "in Christ" there is a "new creation." Stay tuned for more on the "new creation."

Mark Rohde can be reached at marklrohde@icloud.com.