Colossians 1:13-23

New American Standard Bible

The Incomparable Christ

^13 [a]For He rescued us from the ^[b](A)domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of ^[c](B)His beloved Son, ^14 (C)in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

^15 [d]He is the ^(D)image of the ^(E)invisible God, the ^(F)firstborn of all creation: ¹⁶ for ^[e](G)by Him all things were created, ^(H)both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(I)thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—^(J)all things have been created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He ^[f](K)is before all things, and in Him all things ^[g]hold together. ¹⁸ He is also the ^(L)head of ^(M)the body, the church; and He is ^(N)the beginning, ^(O)the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹ For ^[h]it was ^(P)the Father’s good pleasure for all ^(Q)the ^[i]fullness to dwell in Him, ²⁰ and through Him to ^(R)reconcile all things to Himself, ^(S)whether things on earth or things in ^[j]heaven, having made ^(T)peace through ^(U)the blood of His cross.

²¹ And although you were ^(V)previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, ²² yet He has now ^(W)reconciled you in His ^(X)body of flesh through death, in order to ^(Y)present you before Him ^(Z)holy and blameless and beyond reproach— ²³ if indeed you continue in ^[k]the faith firmly ^(AA)established and steadfast, and not shifting from the ^(AB)hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed ^(AC)in all creation under heaven, ^(AD)and of which I, Paul, ^[l]was made a ^[m](AE)minister.