{All things} (	a panta). The universe as in  Ro 11:35 , a
well-known philosophical phrase. It is repeated at the end of the
verse. {In him were created} (en aut(9369) ektisth(885c)). Paul now
gives the reason (hoti, for) for the primacy of Christ in the
work of creation ( 16f. ). It is the constative aorist passive
indicative ektisth(885c) (from ktiz(935c), old verb, to found, to
create ( Ro 1:25 ). This central activity of Christ in the work
of creation is presented also in  Joh 1:3  Heb 1:2  and is a
complete denial of the Gnostic philosophy. The whole of creative
activity is summed up in Christ including the angels in heaven
and everything on earth. God wrought through "the Son of his
love." All earthly dignities are included. {Have been created}
(ektistai). Perfect passive indicative of ktiz(935c), "stand
created," "remain created." The permanence of the universe rests,
then, on Christ far more than on gravity. It is a Christo-centric
universe. {Through him} (di' autou). As the intermediate and
sustaining agent. He had already used en aut(9369) (in him) as the
sphere of activity. {And unto him} (kai eis auton). This is the
only remaining step to take and Paul takes it ( 1Co 15:28 ) See
 Eph 1:10  for similar use of en aut(9369) of Christ and in  Col
1:19  20  again we have en aut(9369), di' autou, eis auton used of
Christ. See  Heb 2:10  for di' hon (because of whom) and di'
hou (by means of whom) applied to God concerning the universe
(	a panta). In  Ro 11:35  we find ex autou kai di' autou kai
eis auton ta panta referring to God. But Paul does not use ex
in this connection of Christ, but only en, dia, and eis.
See the same distinction preserved in  1Co 8:6  (ex of God,
dia, of Christ).