* **he is the head** - "Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the head"
* **He is the head of the church, his body** - This metaphor compares Jesus position to the church to the head on human body. As the head rules the body, so does Jesus rule the church. (See: [[en:ta:vol1:translate:figs_metaphor]])
* **originating authority** - first chief or founder. Jesus started the Church.
* **firstborn out of the dead ones ** - Jesus is the first person to die and come back to life, never to die again.
* **This is because it pleased God to decide that all his fullness should live in him ** - "God the Father was pleased to make everything he is to live in Christ" (UDB) (See: [[en:ta:vol2:translate:figs_activepassive]])
* **through ** - The Greek word for the preposition "through" has the idea of a channel or way, showing that God brings peace and reconciliation to people by the blood of Jesus when he died on the cross.