en_tn/col/01/18.md

He is the head

"Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the head"

He is the head of the body, the church

Paul speaks of Jesus' position over the church as if he were the head on the human body. As the head rules the body, so does Jesus rule the church. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

the beginning

"the originating authority." He is the first chief or founder.

firstborn from among the dead

Jesus is the first person to die and come back to life, never to die again.

Son

This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/guidelines-sonofgodprinciples)

through the blood of his cross

"by means of the blood Jesus shed on the cross"

the blood of his cross

Here "blood" stands for the death of Christ on the cross. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)