Colossians 1:17-19

Contemporary English Version

¹⁷ God's Son was before all else,
and by him everything
    is held together.
^18 (A) He is the head of his body,
    which is the church.
He is the very beginning,
the first to be raised
    from death,
so that he would be
    above all others.

¹⁹ God himself was pleased
    to live fully in his Son.