¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God,^(A)
the firstborn over all creation.^(B)
16 For everything was created by him,^(C)
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through him and for him.^(D)
17 He is before all things,^(E)
and by him all things^(F) hold together.
¹⁸ He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,^(G)
the firstborn from the dead,^(H)
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.
¹⁹ For God was pleased to have
all his fullness^(I) dwell in him,^(J)
20 and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace^(K)
through his blood,^(L) shed on the cross.^[a](M)