001:016 For in Him was created the universe of things in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, thrones, dominions, princedoms, powers—all were created, and exist through and for Him.
001:017 And HE IS before all things and in and through Him the universe is a harmonious whole.
001:018 Moreover He is the Head of His Body, the Church. He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, in order that He Himself may in all things occupy the foremost place.
001:019 For it was the Father's gracious will that the whole of the divine perfections should dwell in Him.
001:020 And God purposed through Him to reconcile the universe to Himself, making peace through His blood, which was shed upon the Cross— to reconcile to Himself through Him, I say, things on earth and things in Heaven.
001:021 And you, estranged as you once were and even hostile in your minds, amidst your evil deeds,
001:022 He has now, in His human body, reconciled to God by His death, to bring you, holy and faultless and irreproachable, into His presence;
001:023 if, indeed, you are still firmly holding to faith as your foundation, without ever shifting from your hope that rests on the Good News that you have heard, which has been proclaimed in the whole creation under Heaven, and in which I Paul have been appointed to serve.
001:024 Now I can find joy amid my sufferings for you, and I fill up
in my own person whatever is lacking in Christ's afflictions
on behalf of His Body, the Church.
001:025 I have been appointed to serve the Church in the position
of responsibility entrusted to me by God for your benefit,
so that I may fully deliver God's Message—