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.

² To the saints ^(A)and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:

^(B)Grace to you and peace from God our Father ^[a]and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^4 (A)since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of ^(B)your love for all the saints;

^26 (A)the ^[a]mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, ^(B)but now has been revealed to His saints.

^25 (A)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(B)gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might ^[a]sanctify and cleanse her ^(C)with the washing of water ^(D)by the word, ^27 (E)that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, ^(F)not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.