Preeminence of Christ

^9 (A)For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask ^(B)that you may be filled with ^(C)the knowledge of His will ^(D)in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ^10 (E)that you may walk worthy of the Lord, ^(F)fully pleasing Him, ^(G)being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the ^(H)knowledge of God; ^11 (I)strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, ^(J)for all patience and longsuffering ^(K)with joy; ^12 (L)giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of ^(M)the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has delivered us from ^(N)the power of darkness ^(O)and ^[a]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ^14 (P)in whom we have redemption ^[b]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

¹⁵ He is ^(Q)the image of the invisible God, ^(R)the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For ^(S)by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or ^(T)dominions or ^[c]principalities or ^[d]powers. All things were created ^(U)through Him and for Him. ^17 (V)And He is before all things, and in Him ^(W)all things consist. ¹⁸ And ^(X)He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, ^(Y)the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Reconciled in Christ

¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that ^(Z)in Him all the fullness should dwell, ²⁰ and ^(AA)by Him to reconcile ^(AB)all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, ^(AC)having made peace through the blood of His cross.

²¹ And you, ^(AD)who once were alienated and enemies in your mind ^(AE)by wicked works, yet now He has ^(AF)reconciled ^22 (AG)in the body of His flesh through death, ^(AH)to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— ²³ if indeed you continue ^(AI)in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are ^(AJ)not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, ^(AK)which was preached to every creature under heaven, ^(AL)of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Sacrificial Service for Christ

^24 (AM)I now rejoice in my sufferings ^(AN)for you, and fill up in my flesh ^(AO)what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for ^(AP)the sake of His body, which is the church, ²⁵ of which I became a minister according to ^(AQ)the ^[e]stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, ^26 (AR)the ^[f]mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, ^(AS)but now has been revealed to His saints. ^27 (AT)To them God willed to make known what are ^(AU)the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: ^[g]which is ^(AV)Christ in you, ^(AW)the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we preach, ^(AX)warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, ^(AY)that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me ^(AZ)mightily.

Sectarianism Is Carnal

3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to ^(A)babes in Christ. ² I fed you with ^(B)milk and not with solid food; ^(C)for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

Spiritual Immaturity

¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the ^[a]oracles of God; and you have come to need ^(A)milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is ^(B)a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to those who are ^[b]of full age, that is, those who by reason of ^[c]use have their senses exercised ^(C)to discern both good and evil.

^18 (A)the eyes of your ^[a]understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is ^(B)the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, ^(C)according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when ^(D)He raised Him from the dead and ^(E)seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

¹⁶ that He would grant you, ^(A)according to the riches of His glory, ^(B)to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in ^(C)the inner man, ^17 (D)that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, ^(E)being rooted and grounded in love, ^18 (F)may be able to comprehend with all the saints ^(G)what is the width and length and depth and height—

¹³ I can do all things ^(A)through ^[a]Christ who strengthens me.