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.