Colossians 1:15-20
15....
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16....For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17....And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18....And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19....For it pleased the Father that
in him should all fulness dwell;
20....And, having made peace
through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
"Image of God" and "through His blood" speaks of Jesus
before His resurrection. Notice verse 19 has "all fulness" dwelling in Jesus at that time.
When Paul wrote this epistle, there was no "
Colossians 2". Instead, chapter 1 went right into chapter 2. So, the "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily"....(
Colossians 2:9) continued what was said about the "all fulness dwell" in
Colossians 1:9. Thus, the "fullness" in Christ was before Calvary, not after the resurrection.
Sean, you act as if the "Godhead" is a physical entity. Maybe a gathering of Deities? It is a term that refers to God's nature. Thus, the "fulness of the Godhead" refers to the "fulness of God's nature." We know Jesus manifested that trait before His death, thus He had all that fullness of God's nature before His resurrection.
John 1:15-18
15....John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16....And
of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17....For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18....No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Verse 16's "fullness" is the same "fullness" as found in
Colossians 1:19 and 2:9.
Pre-crucifixion, Sean, not post-resurrection.