The Importance of Christ

¹⁵ The Son [^L…who] is ·the image of [exactly like; the visible representation of] the invisible God [John 1:18; Heb. 1:3]. He ·ranks higher than [^Lis the firstborn of/over] ·everything that has been made [all creation; Prov. 8:22–30]. ¹⁶ ·Through his power [^LIn him; or By him] all things were created [John 1:3; Heb. 1:2]—things in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, all ·powers [or heavenly authorities; ^Lthrones], ·authorities [dominions; kingdoms], ·lords [rulers], and ·rulers [authorities; ^Cthese four may refer to angelic hierarchies, or to earthly and heavenly rulers]. All things were created through Christ and for Christ. ¹⁷ He ·was there before anything was made [^Lis before all things], and all things ·continue [endure; or hold together; unite] ·because of [or in] him. ¹⁸ He is the head of the body, which is the church. He is the beginning [^Cmeaning (1) the source of the church; (2) the creator of all things; or (3) the beginning/initiator of the end-time resurrection]. He is the ·first one who was raised [^Lfirstborn] from the dead. So in all things Jesus has ·first place [supremacy]. ¹⁹ God was pleased for all ·of himself [that he is; ^Lof his fullness] to live in ·Christ [or the Son; ^Lhim]. ²⁰ And through ·Christ [^Lhim], God has ·brought all things back to himself again [^Lreconciled all things to himself]—things on earth and things in heaven. ·God made [^L…by making] peace through the blood of ·Christ’s death on the cross [^Lhis cross].