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)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice^(AC) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,^(AD) for the sake of his body, which is the church.^{(AE) 25} I have become its servant^(AF) by the commission God gave me^(AG) to present to you the word of God^(AH) in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery^(AI) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known^(AJ) among the Gentiles the glorious riches^(AK) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,^(AL) the hope of glory.

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing^(AM) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,^(AN) so that we may present everyone fully mature^(AO) in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously^(AP) contend^(AQ) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.^(AR)

2 I want you to know how hard I am contending^(AS) for you and for those at Laodicea,^(AT) and for all who have not met me personally. ² My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart^(AU) and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery^(AV) of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.^{(AW) 4} I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.^{(AX) 5} For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit^(AY) and delight to see how disciplined^(AZ) you are and how firm^(BA) your faith in Christ^(BB) is.

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,^(BC) continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted^(BD) and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,^(BE) and overflowing with thankfulness.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,^(BF) which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces^[b] of this world^(BG) rather than on Christ.

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness^(BH) of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head^(BI) over every power and authority.^{(BJ) 11} In him you were also circumcised^(BK) with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh^[c](BL) was put off when you were circumcised by^[d] Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism,^(BM) in which you were also raised with him^(BN) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.^(BO)

¹³ When you were dead in your sins^(BP) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you^[e] alive^(BQ) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,^{(BR) 14} having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,^(BS) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.^{(BT) 15} And having disarmed the powers and authorities,^(BU) he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them^(BV) by the cross.^[f]