The Centrality of Christ

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)

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Footnotes

  1. 1:20 Other mss add through him

Hymn about Christ’s work

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God,
        the one who is first over all creation,[a]

16 Because all things were created by him:
        both in the heavens and on the earth,
        the things that are visible and the things that are invisible.
            Whether they are thrones or powers,
            or rulers or authorities,
        all things were created through him and for him.

17 He existed before all things,
        and all things are held together in him.

18 He is the head of the body, the church,
who is the beginning,
        the one who is firstborn from among the dead[b]
        so that he might occupy the first place in everything.

19 Because all the fullness of God was pleased to live in him,
20         and he reconciled all things to himself through him—
        whether things on earth or in the heavens.
            He brought peace through the blood of his cross.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:15 Or firstborn of all creation
  2. Colossians 1:18 Or first over the dead