After salutation Paul thanks God for the Colossians' faith; |
confirms the doctrine of Epaphras; |
prays further for their increase in grace; |
describes the supremacy of Christ; |
| 15 ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου, |
| πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως, |
| 16 ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα |
| ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς |
| τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα, |
| εἴτε θρόνοι εἴτε κυριότητες |
| εἴτε ἄρχαι εἴτε ἐξουσίαι· |
| τὰ πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται· |
| 17 καὶ αὐτός ἐστιν πρὸ πάντων |
| καὶ τὰ πάντα ἐν αὐτῷ συνέστηκεν, |
| 18 καὶ αὐτός ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ |
| σώματος τῆς ἐκκλησίας· |
| ὅς ἐστιν ἡ ἀρχή, |
| πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, |
| ἵνα γένηται ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτὸς πρωτεύων, |
| 19 ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ εὐδόκησεν πᾶν |
| τὸ πλήρωμα κατοικῆσαι |
| 20 καὶ δι’ αὐτοῦ ἀποκαταλλάξαι τὰ πάντα εἰς αὐτὸν |
| εἰρηνοποιήσας διὰ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ σταυροῦ αὐτοῦ, |
| δι’ αὐτοῦ εἴτε τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς |
| εἴτε τὰ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. |
encourages them to receive Jesus Christ, and commends his own ministry. |