16. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,the visible and the invisible,whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;all things were created through him and for him.
17. He is before all things,and in him all things hold together.
18. He is the head of the body, the church.He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
19. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
20. and through him to reconcile all things for him,making peace by the blood of his cross[through him], whether those on earth or those in heaven.
21. And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds
22. he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him,
23. provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.