Colossians 1:16-29

16For by Him all things were created— in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen, whether thrones or angelic powers or rulers or authorities. All was created through Him and for Him.

17He exists before everything, and in Him all holds together.

18He is the head of the body, His community. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead— so that He might come to have first place in all things.

19For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him

20and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace through the blood of His cross— whether things on earth or things in heaven!

21Once you were alienated from God and hostile in your attitude by wicked deeds.

22But now He has reconciled you in Messiah’s physical body through death, in order to present you holy, spotless and blameless in His eyes—

23if indeed you continue in the faith, established and firm, not budging from the hope of the Good News that you have heard. This Good News has been proclaimed throughout all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.

24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and in my physical body—for the sake of His body, Messiah’s community—I fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Messiah.

25I became its servant according to God’s commission, given to me for you, in order to declare His message in full—

26the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His kedoshim.

27God chose to make known to them this glorious mystery regarding the Gentiles—which is Messiah in you, the hope of glory!

28We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in Messiah.

29To this end I labor, striving with all His strength which is powerfully at work in me.