Colossians 1:18

1:18 He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn ¹  from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things. ² 

Colossians 1:23

1:23 if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, ³  without shifting ⁴  from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.

---

¹ tn See the note on the term “firstborn” in 1:15. Here the reference to Jesus as the “firstborn from among the dead” seems to be arguing for a chronological priority, i.e., Jesus was the first to rise from the dead.

² tn Grk “in order that he may become in all things, himself, first.”

³ tn BDAG 276 s.v. ἑδραῖος suggests “firm, steadfast.”

⁴ tn BDAG 639 s.v. μετακινέω suggests “without shifting from the hope” here.