¹⁶ for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; ¹⁷ and he is before all things, and in him all things ^[a]consist. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; ^[b]that in all things he might have the preeminence. ^19 [c]For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell;

⁵ ye also, as living stones, are built up ^[a]a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.