Set One verses 15-17
“He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
The controlling principle of all creation.
Set one ends with a reassertion that Christ has preeminence.
“He keeps the cosmos from becoming chaos.” H.C.G. Moule
“The universe is not self sufficient, nor are individuals, no matter how much they may deceive themselves into thinking they are.” David E. Garland
Note: Most of this material is indebted to David Garland’s NIV Application Commentary