¹⁵ He is ^(A)the image of the invisible God, ^(B)the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For ^(C)by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or ^(D)dominions or ^[a]principalities or ^[b]powers. All things were created ^(E)through Him and for Him. ^17 (F)And He is before all things, and in Him ^(G)all things consist. ¹⁸ And ^(H)He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, ^(I)the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Reconciled in Christ

¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that ^(J)in Him all the fullness should dwell, ²⁰ and ^(K)by Him to reconcile ^(L)all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, ^(M)having made peace through the blood of His cross.

²¹ And you, ^(N)who once were alienated and enemies in your mind ^(O)by wicked works, yet now He has ^(P)reconciled ^22 (Q)in the body of His flesh through death, ^(R)to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— ²³ if indeed you continue ^(S)in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are ^(T)not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, ^(U)which was preached to every creature under heaven, ^(V)of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Sacrificial Service for Christ

^24 (W)I now rejoice in my sufferings ^(X)for you, and fill up in my flesh ^(Y)what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for ^(Z)the sake of His body, which is the church, ²⁵ of which I became a minister according to ^(AA)the ^[c]stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, ^26 (AB)the ^[d]mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, ^(AC)but now has been revealed to His saints. ^27 (AD)To them God willed to make known what are ^(AE)the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: ^[e]which is ^(AF)Christ in you, ^(AG)the hope of glory.

³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and ^(A)righteousness and sanctification and redemption— ³¹ that, as it is written, ^(B)“He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

From Suffering to Glory

¹⁸ For I consider that ^(A)the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

²⁰ For ^(A)our citizenship is in heaven, ^(B)from which we also ^(C)eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ^21 (D)who will transform our lowly body that it may be ^(E)conformed to His glorious body, ^(F)according to the working by which He is able even to ^(G)subdue all things to Himself.