1 ^(A)In the beginning was ^(B)the Word, and the Word was ^(C)with God, and ^(D)the Word was God. ^2 [a]He was in the beginning with God. ^3 (E)All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him ^[b]not even one thing came into being that has come into being.

¹⁶ for ^[a](A)by Him all things were created, ^(B)both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(C)thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—^(D)all things have been created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He ^[b](E)is before all things, and in Him all things ^[c]hold together. ¹⁸ He is also the ^(F)head of ^(G)the body, the church; and He is ^(H)the beginning, ^(I)the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹ For ^[d]it was ^(J)the Father’s good pleasure for all ^(K)the ^[e]fullness to dwell in Him, ²⁰ and through Him to ^(L)reconcile all things to Himself, ^(M)whether things on earth or things in ^[f]heaven, having made ^(N)peace through ^(O)the blood of His cross.

⁶ who, as He already ^(A)existed in the ^(B)form of God, ^(C)did not consider equality with God something to be ^[a]grasped, ⁷ but ^[b](D)emptied Himself by taking the form of a ^(E)bond-servant and ^[c](F)being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, ^(G)He humbled Himself by becoming ^(H)obedient to the point of death: ^(I)death ^[d]on a cross.