Colossians 1:15-2

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Supremacy of Christ

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation,^{(A) 16} for in^[a] him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He himself is before all things, and in^[b] him all things hold together. ¹⁸ He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.^{(B) 19} For in him all the fullness of God^[c] was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.^(C)

²¹ And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled^[d] in his fleshly body^[e] through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him,^{(D) 23} provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature^[f] under heaven. I, Paul, became a minister of this gospel.^(E)

Paul’s Interest in the Colossians

²⁴ I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. ²⁵ I became its minister according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,^{(F) 26} the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints.^{(G) 27} To them God chose to make known how great among the gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.^{(H) 28} It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.^{[g](I) 29} For this I toil and strive with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.^(J)

2 For I want you to know how greatly I strive for you and for those in Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face. ² I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ,^{[h](K) 3} in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.^{(L) 4} I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. ⁵ For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your orderly conduct and the firmness of your faith in Christ.^(M)

Fullness of Life in Christ

⁶ As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.^(N)

⁸ Watch out that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental principles^[i] of the world, and not according to Christ.^{(O) 9} For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.^{(P) 11} In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision,^[j] by the removal of the body^[k] of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ;^{(Q) 12} when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.^{(R) 13} And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God^[l] made you^[m] alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses,^{(S) 14} erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ He disarmed^[n] the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.^(T)