but as then he who was born according to the flesh did persecute him according to the spirit, so also now;

that we may no more be babes, tossed and borne about by every wind of the teaching, in the sleight of men, in craftiness, unto the artifice of leading astray,

who is the image of the invisible God, first-born of all creation,

And himself is the head of the body -- the assembly -- who is a beginning, a first-born out of the dead, that he might become in all things -- himself -- first,

and when again He may bring in the first-born to the world, He saith, 'And let them bow before him -- all messengers of God;'

By faith Moses, having been born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child comely, and were not afraid of the decree of the king;

by faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that He who is destroying the first-born might not touch them.

to the company and assembly of the first-born in heaven enrolled, and to God the judge of all, and to spirits of righteous men made perfect,

as new-born babes the word's pure milk desire ye, that in it ye may grow,

for having received from God the Father honour and glory, such a voice being borne to him by the excellent glory: 'This is My Son -- the beloved, in whom I was well pleased;'

and this voice we -- we did hear, out of heaven borne, being with him in the holy mount.

for not by will of man did ever prophecy come, but by the Holy Spirit borne on holy men of God spake.

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born out of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth; to him who did love us, and did bathe us from our sins in his blood,