Colossians 1:12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

◄ Colossians 1:12 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

English Standard Version
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

New American Standard Bible
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

King James Bible
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints' inheritance in the light.

International Standard Version
and might thank the Father, who has enabled us to share in the saints' inheritance in the light.

American Standard Version
giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light:

Darby Bible Translation
giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit for sharing the portion of the saints in light,

Young's Literal Translation
Giving thanks to the Father who did make us meet for the participation of the inheritance of the saints in the light,

Cross References

Acts 20:32
And now, brothers, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

2 Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Ephesians 1:18
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Ephesians 2:18
For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Ephesians 5:8
For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

1:9-14 The apostle was constant in prayer, that the believers might be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all wisdom. Good words will not do without good works. He who undertakes to give strength to his people, is a God of power, and of glorious power. The blessed Spirit is the author of this. In praying for spiritual strength, we are not straitened, or confined in the promises, and should not be so in our hopes and desires. The grace of God in the hearts of believers is the power of God; and there is glory in this power. The special use of this strength was for sufferings. There is work to be done, even when we are suffering. Amidst all their trials they gave thanks to the Father of our Lord Jesus, whose special grace fitted them to partake of the inheritance provided for the saints. To bring about this change, those were made willing subjects of Christ, who were slaves of Satan. All who are designed for heaven hereafter, are prepared for heaven now. Those who have the inheritance of sons, have the education of sons, and the disposition of sons. By faith in Christ they enjoyed this redemption, as the purchase of his atoning blood, whereby forgiveness of sins, and all other spiritual blessings were bestowed. Surely then we shall deem it a favour to be delivered from Satan's kingdom and brought into that of Christ, knowing that all trials will soon end, and that every believer will be found among those who come out of great tribulation.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

12. You "giving thanks unto the Father." See on [2401]Col 1:10; this clause is connected with "that ye may be filled" (Col 1:9), and "that ye may walk" (Col 1:10). The connection is not, "We do not cease to pray for you (Col 1:9) giving thanks."

unto the Father—of Jesus Christ, and so our Father by adoption (Ga 3:26; 4:4-6).

which hath made us meet—Greek, "who made us meet." Not "is making us meet" by progressive growth in holiness; but once for all made us meet. It is not primarily the Spirit's work that is meant here, as the text is often used; but the Father's work in putting us by adoption, once for all, in a new standing, namely, that of children. The believers meant here were in different stages of progressive sanctification; but in respect to the meetness specified here, they all alike had it from the Father, in Christ His Son, being "complete in Him" (Col 2:10). Compare Joh 17:17; Jude 1, "sanctified by God the Father"; 1Co 1:30. Still, secondarily, this once-for-all meetness contains in it the germ of sanctification, afterwards developed progressively in the life by the Father's Spirit in the believer. The Christian life of heavenliness is the first stage of heaven itself. There must, and will be, a personal meetness for heaven, where there is a judicial meetness.

to be partakers, &c.—Greek, "for the (or 'our') portion of the inheritance (Ac 20:32; 26:18; Eph 1:11) of the saints in light." "Light" begins in the believer here, descending from "the Father of lights" by Jesus, "the true light," and is perfected in the kingdom of light, which includes knowledge, purity, love, and joy. It is contrasted here with the "darkness" of the unconverted state (Col 1:13; compare 1Pe 2:9).