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.

²³ that the Messiah would suffer^(A) and, as the first to rise from the dead,^(B) would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”^(C)

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,^(A) the firstfruits^(B) of those who have fallen asleep.^(C)