King James Bible
"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."
Christ's headship over the church employs the body metaphor to show his authority and vital connection to believers. As the head directs and sustains the body, Christ governs and gives life to his people, continuing Paul's cosmic Christology from earlier verses. "Beginning" (archē) indicates Christ as the source and originator of new creation, while "firstborn from the dead" establishes his resurrection as the prototype for all believers. This dual title emphasizes both his temporal priority and his supremacy over death itself. This purpose clause reveals God's design: Christ must hold first place in every sphere—creation, redemption, and the church. Paul's argument culminates in this comprehensive statement of Christ's absolute supremacy, countering any Colossian tendency to diminish Christ's unique status.