From Colossians 1:
12. [We are folks who are] constantly giving thanks to the Father: the One calling you [other MSS: us] – as well as making [you; us] competent (sufficient; qualified; fit; suitable) – into the divided share of the lot of the inheritance (or: into the part and portion of the allotted possession) of the set-apart folks (or: pertaining to the holy ones; belonging to the saints) within the Light;
13. He who drags us out of danger (or: rescued us) forth from out of the midst of the authority of the Darkness (Darkness's jurisdiction and right; = the privilege of ignorance), and changes [our] position (or: transported [us], thus, giving [us] a change of standing, and transferred [us]) into the midst of the kingdom and reign of the Son of His love
(or: into the midst of the sovereign influence of
the Son Who has the characteristics and
qualities of His love; into union with the
sovereign activities of the Son Whose origin is
His love; or: into the sphere of the reign of the
Son of the Love which is Him; into the center of
the kingdom of the Son, which is His love),
14. in Whom (or: in union with [which Son]) we continuously have and hold the redemption (the release and liberation procured by payment of a ransom) [which results in] the sending away of the failures (or: the dismissal of the errors pertaining to falling short and straying to the side of the target; the flowing away of the sins; the divorce from mistakes).
15. It is [this Son] Who is the Image (the Exact Formed Likeness; the Figure and Representation; visible likeness; portrait) of the not-seen God (or: the unable to be seen God; the invisible God), the Firstborn of all creation
(or: of every creature; or: of every framing and
founding; of every act of reducing from a state
of disorder and wildness; or: pertaining to the
whole creation; or: = the Inheritor of all
creation Who will also assume authority over
and responsibility for every creature
[note: this is the duty of the firstborn]),
16. because within Him was created (or: in union with Him is founded and settled, is built and planted, is brought into being, is produced and established) the whole (or: all things) – the things within the atmospheres and skies (or: heavens), and the things upon the earth (or: land); the visible things, and the unseen (or: unable to be seen; invisible) things: whether thrones (seats of power) or lordships (ownership systems) or governments (rulers; leadership systems; sovereignties) or authorities – the whole (or: all things) has been created and continues founded and stands framed through means of Him, and [proceeds, or was placed] into Him (or: = He is the agent and goal of all creation).
17. And He is before (prior to; or: maintains precedence of) all things and all people, and the whole has (or: all things have) been placed together and now continues to jointly-stand (stands cohesively; is made to have a co-standing) within the midst of and in union with Him,
18. and so He is the Head (or: Source) of the body – which is the called-out community (the ecclesia; the summoned congregation) – Who is the Beginning (or: the Ruler; the Originator and Ruling Principle; the Beginning Power and Ability of the process), a Firstborn forth from out of the midst of dead folks, to the end that He would be birthed (may come into existence; or: could come to be) within all things and in all people: He continuously holding first place
(or: constantly being preeminent; or:
habitually being the First One; or: continuing
being the First Man [note: this phrase has in
Greek literature been used as a title for a
person]),
19. because WITHIN Him all – the entire contents (that which fills everything; all the full measure [of things]) – delights to settle down and dwell as in a house (or: because He approved all the fullness [of all existence] to permanently reside within Him)
20. and THROUGH Him at once to transfer the whole (= all of existential creation), away from a certain state to the level of another which is quite different (or: to change all things, bringing movement away from being down; to reconcile all things; to change everything from estrangement and alienation to friendship and harmony and move all), INTO Him – making (constructing; forming; creating) peace and harmony through the blood of His cross (execution stake): through Him, whether the things upon the earth (or: land) or the things within the atmospheres and heavens!
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