⁹ And so, ^(A)from the day we heard, ^(B)we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that ^(C)you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all ^(D)spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as ^(E)to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, ^(F)fully pleasing to him: ^(G)bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ^11 (H)being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for ^(I)all endurance and patience ^(J)with joy; ^12 (K)giving thanks^[a] to the Father, who has qualified you^[b] to share in ^(L)the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ He ^(M)has delivered us from ^(N)the domain of darkness and transferred us to ^(O)the kingdom of ^(P)his beloved Son, ^14 (Q)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Preeminence of Christ

^15 (R)He is the image of ^(S)the invisible God, ^(T)the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by^[c] him all things were created, ^(U)in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(V)thrones or ^(W)dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created ^(X)through him and for him. ¹⁷ And ^(Y)he is before all things, and in him all things ^(Z)hold together. ¹⁸ And ^(AA)he is the head of the body, the church. He is ^(AB)the beginning, ^(AC)the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For ^(AD)in him all the ^(AE)fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and ^(AF)through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, ^(AG)making peace ^(AH)by the blood of his cross.

^21 (AI)And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, ^(AJ)doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled ^(AK)in his body of flesh by his death, ^(AL)in order to present you holy and blameless and ^(AM)above reproach before him,

Put On the New Self

3 ^(A)If then you have been raised with Christ, seek ^(B)the things that are above, where Christ is, ^(C)seated at the right hand of God.