12 I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you* have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. 13 God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, 14 *who forgives our sins and sets us free.

15 *Christ is exactly like God,

who cannot be seen.

He is the first-born Son,

superior to all creation.

16 Everything was created by him,

everything in heaven

and on earth,

everything seen and unseen,

including all forces

and powers,

and all rulers

and authorities.

All things were created

by God’s Son,

and everything was made

for him.

17 God’s Son was before all else,

and by him everything

is held together.