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| | USCCB - NAB - Colossians 1 |
 | | Preeminent: when Christ was raised by God as firstborn from the dead (cf Acts 26:23; Rev 1:5), he was placed over the community, the church, that he had brought into being, but he is also indicated as crown of the whole new creation, over all things. |
 | | Paul also urges adherence to Christ in faith and begins to point to his own role as minister (Col 1:23), sufferer (Col 1:24), and proclaimer (Col 1:27-28) of this gospel. |
 | | It may refer to the apocalyptic concept of a quota of "messianic woes" to be endured before the end comes; cf Mark 13:8, 19-20, 24 and the note on Matthew 23:29-32. |
| www.usccb.org /nab/bible/colossians/colossians1.htm (1681 words) |
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