Letter to the Colossians

who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;

in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins;

who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

For by him were all things created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.

He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.

He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him;

and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross. Through him, I say, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens.

You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works,

yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him,

if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the assembly;