²⁰ But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, ^(A)for that which is ^[a]conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

⁵² And Jesus ^(A)increased in wisdom and stature, ^(B)and in favor with God and men.

The Eternal Word^(A)

1 In the beginning ^(B)was the Word, and the ^(C)Word was ^(D)with God, and the Word was ^(E)God. ^2 (F)He was in the beginning with God. ^3 (G)All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ^4 (H)In Him was life, and ^(I)the life was the light of men.

The Word Becomes Flesh

^14 (A)And the Word ^(B)became ^(C)flesh and dwelt among us, and ^(D)we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ^(E)full of grace and truth.

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.