15 [a]He is the (A)image of the (B)invisible God, the (C)firstborn of all creation: 16 for [b](D)by Him all things were created, (E)both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether (F)thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—(G)all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He [c](H)is before all things, and in Him all things [d]hold together. 18 He is also the (I)head of (J)the body, the church; and He is (K)the beginning, (L)the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For [e]it was (M)the Father’s good pleasure for all (N)the [f]fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to (O)reconcile all things to Himself, (P)whether things on earth or things in [g]heaven, having made (Q)peace through (R)the blood of His cross.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:15 Lit Who is
  2. Colossians 1:16 Or in
  3. Colossians 1:17 Or has existed prior to
  4. Colossians 1:17 Or endure
  5. Colossians 1:19 Or all the fullness was pleased to dwell
  6. Colossians 1:19 I.e., fullness of deity
  7. Colossians 1:20 Lit the heavens

The Centrality of Jesus

15 The Son[a] is the image of the invisible God,
    the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by him all things in heaven and on earth were created,
    things visible and invisible,
        whether they are kings,[b] lords, rulers, or powers.
All things have been created through him and for him.
17 He himself existed before anything else did,
    and he holds all things together.
18 He is also the head of the body,
    which is the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
    so that he himself might have first place in everything.
19 For God[c] was pleased to have
    all of his divine essence[d] inhabit him.
20 Through the Son,[e] God[f] also reconciled all things to himself,
    whether things on earth or things in heaven,
thereby making peace
    through the blood of his cross.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 1:15 Lit. He
  2. Colossians 1:16 Lit. thrones
  3. Colossians 1:19 Lit. he
  4. Colossians 1:19 Lit. all of the fullness
  5. Colossians 1:20 Lit. Through him
  6. Colossians 1:20 Lit. he