Colossians 1:12-14
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that God doesn't just allow us to be partakers of His inheritance, but He actively qualifies us. This means He confers the very ability and fitness needed to share in the saints' inheritance, emphasizing that our worthiness is a gift from Him, not something we achieve on our own.
Paul has just expressed his prayer for the Colossians' spiritual growth and strength to live a life pleasing to God. This verse pivots to thanksgiving, specifically thanking the Father for equipping them to receive the eternal inheritance, a stark contrast to the darkness they've been delivered from in the preceding verses.
Ever felt unqualified for what God is calling you to? This verse says God made you qualified. Let's explore what that means.
The word translated 'made us meet' (hikanoō in Greek) means to make sufficient or adequate. It's not about you becoming good enough, but about God making you sufficient for His purposes.
God's Qualification, Not Ours
Think about it: before Christ, we were 'exiles from God's kingdom,' as one commentator put it. We weren't 'meet' or sufficient on our own. It's God's grace, His provision, that equips us.
A Gift, Not an Earned Reward
This 'meeting' or qualification isn't something we achieve through our own merits or good works. It's a divine enablement, a gift that allows us to partake in something far beyond our natural capacity. God supplies the 'grace sufficient' to make it proper for us to receive His blessings.
What exactly is this 'inheritance of the saints in light' that God qualifies us for?
This inheritance isn't just about a future heavenly reward; it's a present reality as well.
A Kingdom of Light
'In light' signifies a realm of purity, knowledge, and joy – the very presence and kingdom of God. It's a stark contrast to the 'kingdom of darkness' we were once in. This light represents God's character and His revealed truth.
Present and Future Blessing
While it certainly points to the glorious future in God's presence, the 'inheritance in light' also begins now. As believers, we walk in the light of God's truth and experience His presence. It’s the ongoing journey of sharing in the divine life that has already begun.
Understand the original words
hikanoō · Greek Verb
To be made sufficient or fit for a task or status; it implies receiving the necessary credentials or standing to be part of God's covenant people.
klēros · Greek Noun
An allotted portion of property or privilege received by birthright or promise; biblically, it refers to the eternal blessings and standing secured for believers in Christ.
hagios · Greek Noun
Those set apart by God for Himself; believers who are sanctified and made holy through the blood of Christ.
rhyomai · Greek Verb
To rescue or pull out from a danger; it denotes the act of God extracting believers from the grip of evil and judgment.
This passage echoes the 'inheritance of the saints in light' by describing believers as 'children of light,' directly linking the concept of divine light to the redeemed community.
1 John 1:7This verse further clarifies the nature of 'light' by stating that walking in light means having fellowship with God and with one another, and that His blood cleanses us, reinforcing the idea of spiritual qualification for fellowship and inheritance.
Romans 8:17This passage speaks of believers as 'heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,' directly connecting the idea of an inheritance with our relationship to God and Christ, similar to the 'inheritance of the saints' in Colossians.
Acts 26:18This verse describes the transformation from darkness to light and from Satan's power to God's forgiveness, mirroring the 'qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light' by showing the process of being made fit for God's kingdom.
2 Corinthians 3:6The Greek word translated 'qualified' in Colossians 1:12 is also used here to describe believers as 'sufficient' or 'qualified' to be ministers of the new covenant, highlighting that our ability to participate in God's blessings is a divine enablement, not our own merit.
vincentColossians 1:12: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:"
Made us meet (ἱκανώσαντι)See on 2 Corinthians 3:6.To be partakers of the inheritance (εἰς τὴν μερίδα τοῦ κλήρου).Lit., for the portion of the lot; that is, the portion which is the lot. Compare Acts 8:21, where the two words are coordinated.In light (ἐν τῷ φωτί)Connect with inheritance: the inheritance which is in light. This need not be limited to futu…
barnesColossians 1:12: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:"
Giving thanks to the Father - This is another mode by which we may "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing" Colossians 1:10 ; to wit, by rendering appropriate thanks to God for his mercy. The particular point which the apostle here says demanded thanksgiving was, that they had been called from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. This had been done…
The verse highlights that God doesn't just allow us to be partakers of His inheritance, but He actively qualifies us. This means He confers the very ability and fitness needed to share in the saints' inheritance, emphasizing that our worthiness is a gift from Him, not something we achieve on our own.
Paul has just expressed his prayer for the Colossians' spiritual growth and strength to live a life pleasing to God. This verse pivots to thanksgiving, specifically thanking the Father for equipping them to receive the eternal inheritance, a stark contrast to the darkness they've been delivered from in the preceding verses.
Paul has just expressed his prayer for the Colossians' spiritual growth and strength to live a life pleasing to God. This verse pivots to thanksgiving, specifically thanking the Father for equipping them to receive the eternal inheritance, a stark contrast to the darkness they've been delivered from in the preceding verses.
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exousia · Greek Noun
The sphere of influence or authority; often used to describe the realm of satanic power, evil, and separation from God.
skotos · Greek Noun
The state of spiritual alienation and moral evil; symbolizes existence outside the covenant and life of God.
basileia · Greek Noun
The sovereign rule or reign of God; it refers to the reality of God's active, redemptive governance over His people and the cosmos.
apolytrōsis · Greek Noun
A release through the payment of a ransom price; biblically, it is the purchase of humanity from the slavery of sin by the sacrifice of Christ.
aphesis · Greek Noun
The act of sending away or canceling a debt; biblically, it describes God pardoning sin so that the barrier of guilt is removed.
"giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the fo…" — The verse highlights that God doesn't just allow us to be partakers of His inheritance, but He actively qualifies us. This means He confers the very ability and fitness needed to share in the sai…
