¹⁷ He is before all things,^(A) and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head^(B) of the body, the church;^(C) he is the beginning and the firstborn^(D) from among the dead,^(E) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased^(F) to have all his fullness^(G) dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile^(H) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,^(I) by making peace^(J) through his blood,^(K) shed on the cross.

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies^(L) in your minds^(M) because of^[a] your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled^(N) you by Christ’s physical body^(O) through death to present you^(P) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation^(Q)— ²³ if you continue^(R) in your faith, established^(S) and firm, and do not move from the hope^(T) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,^(U) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.^(V)

⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,^(A) and to give his life as a ransom for many.”^(B)

²² This righteousness^(A) is given through faith^(B) in^[a] Jesus Christ^(C) to all who believe.^(D) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,^{(E) 23} for all have sinned^(F) and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified^(G) freely by his grace^(H) through the redemption^(I) that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[b](J) through the shedding of his blood^(K)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished^(L)— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

⁵ For there is one God^(A) and one mediator^(B) between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,^{(C) 6} who gave himself as a ransom^(D) for all people. This has now been witnessed to^(E) at the proper time.^(F)