for it was through Him that everything was created in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen, thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.

So He existed before all things, and through Him all things are held together.

It is so because it was the divine choice that all the divine fullness should dwell in Him,

and that through Him He might reconcile to Himself all things on earth or in heaven, making this peace through the blood He shed On His cross.

So you, who were once estranged from Him, and hostile in disposition as shown by your wrongdoings, He has now reconciled

We are proclaiming Him, warning everyone and teaching everyone with ample wisdom, in order to present to God everyone mature through union with Christ.

So, just as you once accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue living in vital union with Him,

with your roots deeply planted in Him, being continuously built up in Him, and growing stronger in faith, just as you were taught to do, overflowing through it in your gratitude.

For it is in Him that all the fullness of Deity continues to live embodied,

and through union with Him you too are filled with it. He is the Head of all principalities and dominions.

And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature,

for you were buried with Him in baptism and raised to life with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead.

When Christ, who is our life, appears, you too will appear to be glorified in fellowship with Him.

and have put on the new self which is in the process of being made new in the likeness of its Creator, so that you may attain a perfect knowledge of Him.

And whatever you say or do, let it all be done with reference to the Lord Jesus, and through Him continue to give thanks to God the Father.

I am sending him to you for the express purpose of letting you know my circumstances, and of cheering your hearts;

Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner, wishes to be remembered to you; and so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas; if he comes to see you, give him a hearty welcome.