Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
The Word had an integral part in creation.
The first half of the verse and the second say the same thing, first positively and then, negatively. The repetition is, again, for emphasis and clarification, and proves the validity of verse 1. For everything to have been made through Him, the Word must have been present at the beginning, with God, and must indeed be God, Who alone is the Creator (Col 1:16-17, Heb 1:8-12, 2Peter 3:5).
Colossians 1:16-17 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Hebrews 1:8-12 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the sceptre of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”
2Peter 3:5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
The Word was the One “through Whom” everything was made. He was the agent in creation (1Cor 8:6, Heb 1:2). This makes Him overwhelmingly qualified for the work of our redemption.
1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
Hebrews 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
Morris states, “There is a change of tense. ‘Were made’ (aorist) regards creation in its totality, as one act. But ‘hath been made’ is perfect, and this conveys the thought of the continuing existence of created things. What we see around us did not come into existence apart from the Word, any more than what appeared in the first day of creation.” (NICNT p. 80)