A.13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
B. 15 Who is the image of the invisible God,
C. the firstborn of every creature (all creation):
D. 16 For by him were all things created,
E. that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers
D’. all things were created by him, and for him:
C’. 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
B’. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
A’. 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Note: verses 17-18 have a chiastic aspect
a. 17 And he is before (pro) all things,
b. and by him all things consist (hold together).
b’. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead;
a’. that in all things he might have the preeminence (proteuo).
I noticed this one too.
I like it, because parts B and C could be quite difficult passages, but parts B’ and C’ help clarify their meaning.
Andrew Perry in the Christadelphian eJournal Vol. 10, No. 2, Apr 2016 proposes the following;
(A) 15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.
(B) 16 For in him all things were created, both in the
heavens and on the earth,
the things visible and the things invisible, whether thrones or lordships or rulers or authorities.
(C) All things have been created (e;ktistai) through him and to him.
17 And he is above all, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body of the church.
(A’) Who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead;
so that he himself might be preeminent among all.
(B’) 19 For in him he was pleased for all fulness to dwell,
(C’) and through him to reconcile all things (ta. pa,nta) to him, 20 having made peace through the blood of his cross;
through him, I say, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens.
The pairings are constantly close here in NASB95.
Please consider from NASB95:
15 He is the image
of the invisible God,
……the firstborn of all creation.
…………16 For by Him
………………all things were created,
……………………[both] in the heavens and on earth,
…………………………visible and invisible,
……………………whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities
………………all things have been created
…………through Him and for Him.
……17 He is before all things,
…………and in Him all things hold together.
………………18 He is also head of the body, the church;
……………………and He is the beginning,
………………the firstborn from the dead,
…………so that He Himself will come
……to have first place in everything.
19 For it was the [Father’s] good pleasure
for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
……20 and through Him
…………to reconcile all things to Himself,
………………having made peace through the blood of His cross;
……through Him, [I say,]
…………whether things on earth or things in heaven.