He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹ 

He himself is before all things and all things are held together ¹  in him.

¹ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn ²  over all creation, ³ 

He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn ¹  from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things. ² 

He has destroyed ¹  what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness ²  expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.

Disarming ¹  the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross. ² 

For I can testify that he has worked hard ¹  for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him).

I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing ¹  and that he may encourage your hearts.

but now he has reconciled you ¹  by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him –

And even though you were dead in your ¹  transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless ²  made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions.

Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths ¹  about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind. ² 

Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave ¹  of Christ, ²  greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured ³  in all the will of God.

He has not held fast ¹  to the head from whom the whole body, supported ²  and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God. ³ 

For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, ¹  and there are no exceptions. ² 

who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Tychicus, a dear brother, faithful minister, and fellow slave ¹  in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ² 

You learned the gospel ¹  from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave ²  – a ³  faithful minister of Christ on our ⁴  behalf –

And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your ¹  minds ²  as expressed through ³  your evil deeds,

Toward this goal ¹  I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully ²  works in me.