⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,^(A) the firstborn from the dead,^(B) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.^(C)

To him who loves us^(D) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,^(E)

¹⁸ And he is the head^(A) of the body, the church;^(B) he is the beginning and the firstborn^(C) from among the dead,^(D) so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

²⁹ For those God foreknew^(A) he also predestined^(B) to be conformed to the image of his Son,^(C) that he might be the firstborn^(D) among many brothers and sisters.

¹⁴ in whom we have redemption,^(A) the forgiveness of sins.^(B)

The Supremacy of the Son of God

¹⁵ The Son is the image^(C) of the invisible God,^(D) the firstborn^(E) over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created:^(F) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;^(G) all things have been created through him and for him.^(H)

²⁰ and through him to reconcile^(A) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,^(B) by making peace^(C) through his blood,^(D) shed on the cross.

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies^(E) in your minds^(F) because of^[a] your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled^(G) you by Christ’s physical body^(H) through death to present you^(I) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation^(J)— ²³ if you continue^(K) in your faith, established^(L) and firm, and do not move from the hope^(M) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,^(N) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.^(O)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice^(P) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,^(Q) for the sake of his body, which is the church.^(R)