14. In Him we have redemption—the release of sins.
15. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16. For 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.
17. He exists before everything, and in Him all holds together.
18. He 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.
19. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him
20. and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace through the blood of His cross— whether things on earth or things in heaven!
21. Once you were alienated from God and hostile in your attitude by wicked deeds.
22. But now He has reconciled you in Messiah’s physical body through death, in order to present you holy, spotless and blameless in His eyes—
23. if 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.
24. Now 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.
25. I became its servant according to God’s commission, given to me for you, in order to declare His message in full—
26. the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His kedoshim.
27. God chose to make known to them this glorious mystery regarding the Gentiles—which is Messiah in you, the hope of glory!