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. |