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].