Colossians 1:15-20
English Standard Version
The Preeminence of Christ
15 (A)He is the image of (B)the invisible God, (C)the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[a] him all things were created, (D)in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether (E)thrones or (F)dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created (G)through him and for him. 17 And (H)he is before all things, and in him all things (I)hold together. 18 And (J)he is the head of the body, the church. He is (K)the beginning, (L)the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For (M)in him all the (N)fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and (O)through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, (P)making peace (Q)by the blood of his cross.
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- Colossians 1:16 That is, by means of; or in
Colossians 1:15-20
New Living Translation
Christ Is Supreme
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,[a]
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.[b]
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
Colossians 1:15-20
New International Version
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.
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