Colossians 1:15-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Centrality of Christ
15 He is the image of the invisible God,(A)
the firstborn over all creation.[a](B)
16 For everything was created by Him,(C)
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through Him and for Him.(D)
17 He is before all things,(E)
and by Him all things(F) hold together.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church;
He is the beginning,(G)
the firstborn from the dead,(H)
so that He might come to have
first place in everything.
19 For God was pleased to have
all His fullness(I) dwell in Him,(J)
20 and through Him to reconcile
everything to Himself
by making peace(K)
through the blood(L) of His cross[b](M)—
whether things on earth or things in heaven.
21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. 22 But now He has reconciled you by His physical body[c] through His death,(N) to present you holy, faultless,(O) and blameless before Him(P)— 23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith(Q) and are not shifted away from the hope(R) of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation(S) under heaven,(T) and I, Paul,(U) have become a servant of it.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Colossians 1:15 The One who is preeminent over all creation
- Colossians 1:20 Other mss add through Him
- Colossians 1:22 His body of flesh on the cross
Colossians 1:15-23
King James Version
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.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
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