The Preeminence of Christ

^15 (A)He is the image of ^(B)the invisible God, ^(C)the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by^[a] him all things were created, ^(D)in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(E)thrones or ^(F)dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created ^(G)through him and for him. ¹⁷ And ^(H)he is before all things, and in him all things ^(I)hold together. ¹⁸ And ^(J)he is the head of the body, the church. He is ^(K)the beginning, ^(L)the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For ^(M)in him all the ^(N)fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and ^(O)through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, ^(P)making peace ^(Q)by the blood of his cross.

^21 (R)And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, ^(S)doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled ^(T)in his body of flesh by his death, ^(U)in order to present you holy and blameless and ^(V)above reproach before him, ^23 (W)if indeed you continue in the faith, ^(X)stable and steadfast, not shifting from ^(Y)the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed ^(Z)in all creation^[b] under heaven, ^(AA)and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul's Ministry to the Church

²⁴ Now ^(AB)I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh ^(AC)I am filling up ^(AD)what is lacking in Christ's afflictions ^(AE)for the sake of his body, that is, the church, ^25 (AF)of which I became a minister according to ^(AG)the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ^26 (AH)the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ^27 (AI)To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are ^(AJ)the riches of the glory of ^(AK)this mystery, which is Christ in you, ^(AL)the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that ^(AM)we may present everyone ^(AN)mature in Christ. ²⁹ For this ^(AO)I toil, ^(AP)struggling ^(AQ)with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

2 For I want you to know ^(AR)how great a ^(AS)struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, ² that ^(AT)their hearts may be encouraged, being ^(AU)knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of ^(AV)God's mystery, which is Christ, ^3 (AW)in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.