The Supremacy of the Son of God

¹⁵ The Son is the image^(A) of the invisible God,^(B) the firstborn^(C) over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created:^(D) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;^(E) all things have been created through him and for him.^{(F) 17} He is before all things,^(G) and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head^(H) of the body, the church;^(I) he is the beginning and the firstborn^(J) from among the dead,^(K) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased^(L) to have all his fullness^(M) dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile^(N) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,^(O) by making peace^(P) through his blood,^(Q) shed on the cross.

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

⁸ Observe therefore all the commands^(A) I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,^{(B) 9} and so that you may live long^(C) in the land the Lord swore^(D) to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.^{(E) 10} The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt,^(F) from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. ¹¹ But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys^(G) that drinks rain from heaven.^{(H) 12} It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes^(I) of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.

¹³ So if you faithfully obey^(J) the commands I am giving you today—to love^(K) the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul^(L)— ¹⁴ then I will send rain^(M) on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains,^(N) so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. ¹⁵ I will provide grass^(O) in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.^(P)

¹⁶ Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.^{(Q) 17} Then the Lord’s anger^(R) will burn against you, and he will shut up^(S) the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce,^(T) and you will soon perish^(U) from the good land the Lord is giving you. ¹⁸ Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.^{(V) 19} Teach them to your children,^(W) talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.^{(X) 20} Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,^{(Y) 21} so that your days and the days of your children may be many^(Z) in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.^(AA)