¹⁸ And he is the head^(A) of the body, the church;^(B) he is the beginning and the firstborn^(C) from among the dead,^(D) so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

²² And God placed all things under his feet^(A) and appointed him to be head^(B) over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body,^(C) the fullness of him^(D) who fills everything in every way.^(E)

⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,^(A) the firstborn from the dead,^(B) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.^(C)

To him who loves us^(D) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,^(E)

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,^(A) the firstfruits^(B) of those who have fallen asleep.^{(C) 21} For since death came through a man,^(D) the resurrection of the dead^(E) comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.^{(F) 23} But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits;^(G) then, when he comes,^(H) those who belong to him.^(I)

¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love,^(A) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,^(B) that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows^(C) and builds itself up^(D) in love,^(E) as each part does its work.