WHO HE IS... as revealed to paul

his person and work...

he is the visible likeness of the invisible Being
he is the first-born Son,
superior to all created things

for by him the Father created
everything in heaven and on earth,
the seen and the unseen things,
including spiritual powers,
lords, rulers, and authorities

the Father created the whole universe
through him and for him
he existed before all things,
and in union with him
all things have their proper place

he is the head of his body, the church;
he is the source of the body's life;
he is the first-born Son
who was raised from death,
in order that he alone might have
the first place in all things

for it was by the Father's own decision
that the Son has in himself
the full nature of the God

through the Son, then,
the Father decided to bring
the whole universe back
to himself

the Father made peace
through his Son's death on the cross,
and so brought back to himself all things,
both on earth and in heaven

at one time you were far away from the Father
and made yourselves his enemies
by the evil things you did and thought

but now,
by means of the physical death of his Son,
the Father made you his friends,
in order to bring you,
holy and pure and innocent,
into his presence

you must, of course, continue faithful
on a firm and sure foundation,
and not allow yourselves to be shaken
from the hope you gained
when you heard the love story

it is of this love story that I,
Paul, became a servant -
this love story which has been proclaimed
to everyone in the world!