Colossians 1:12
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.

New Living Translation
always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

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

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

Berean Literal Bible
giving thanks to the Father, the One having qualified you for the share of 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:

New King James Version
giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

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

NASB 1995
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

NASB 1977
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Legacy Standard Bible
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Amplified Bible
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light.

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you 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;

Contemporary English Version
I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You will also thank the Father, who has made you able to share the light, which is what God's people inherit.

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

Majority Standard Bible
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

NET Bible
giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints' inheritance in the light.

New Heart English Bible
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light;

Webster's Bible Translation
Giving thanks to the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Weymouth New Testament
and give thanks to the Father who has made us fit to receive our share of the inheritance of God's people in Light.

World English Bible
giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us for the participation of the inheritance of the holy ones in the light,

Berean Literal Bible
giving thanks to the Father, the One having qualified you for the share of the inheritance 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,

Smith's Literal Translation
Returning thanks to the Father, having rendered us fitting for the portion of the lot of the holy in light:
Catholic Translations
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:

Catholic Public Domain Version
giving thanks to God the Father, who has made us worthy to have a share in the portion of the saints, in the light.

New American Bible
giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.

New Revised Standard Version
giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So that you may joyfully give thanks to God the Father, who has enlightened us and made us worthy partakers of the inheritance of the saints;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I thank God The Father, who made us worthy for a part of the inheritance of the Saints in the light;
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit for a portion of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Godbey New Testament
giving thanks to the Father, who has made us worthy unto a participation of the inheritance of the saints in light;

Haweis New Testament
giving thanks to God, even the Father, who hath made us meet for a portion in the inheritance of the saints in light;

Mace New Testament
giving thanks to the father, who has qualified you to share in that light he affords to his people:

Weymouth New Testament
and give thanks to the Father who has made us fit to receive our share of the inheritance of God's people in Light.

Worrell New Testament
giving thanks to the Father, Who made us meet for the portion of the inheritance of the saints in light;

Worsley New Testament
giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet for a portion of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Thanksgiving and Prayer
11being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,…

Cross References
Ephesians 1:11-14
In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, / in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. / And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ...

Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Romans 8:17
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

Galatians 3:29
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Hebrews 9:15
Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

1 John 3:1-2
Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. / Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

Philippians 3:20-21
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, / who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

Revelation 5:9-10
And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. / You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

Matthew 25:34
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

John 1:12-13
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— / children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

Romans 8:29-30
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. / And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. / And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

2 Timothy 2:12
if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;


Treasury of Scripture

Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Giving.

Colossians 3:15,17
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful…

1 Chronicles 29:20
And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.

Psalm 79:13
So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.

the Father.

Colossians 2:2
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

John 4:23
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

made.

1 Kings 6:7
And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

Proverbs 16:1
The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Romans 8:29,30
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren…

partakers.

Romans 11:17
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Romans 15:27
It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

1 Corinthians 9:23
And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

inheritance.

Matthew 25:34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Acts 20:32
And now, brethren, 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 unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

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Fit God's Inheritance Kingdom Light Meet Part Partakers Participation Portion Praise Qualified Receive Saints Share Sharing Thanks
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Fit God's Inheritance Kingdom Light Meet Part Partakers Participation Portion Praise Qualified Receive Saints Share Sharing Thanks
Colossians 1
1. After salutation Paul thanks God for the Colossians' faith;
7. confirms the doctrine of Epaphras;
9. prays further for their increase in grace;
14. describes the supremacy of Christ;
21. encourages them to receive Jesus Christ, and commends his own ministry.














giving thanks
The phrase "giving thanks" is derived from the Greek word "eucharisteo," which means to express gratitude or to be thankful. In the context of the early Christian church, thanksgiving was a central aspect of worship and daily life. The act of giving thanks is not merely a polite gesture but a profound acknowledgment of God's grace and provision. It reflects a heart posture that recognizes God's sovereignty and goodness, encouraging believers to maintain an attitude of gratitude regardless of circumstances.

to the Father
The term "Father" here is significant, as it denotes a personal and intimate relationship with God. In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of God as a father was revolutionary, contrasting with the distant and often capricious deities of pagan religions. This relationship is rooted in the Hebrew understanding of God as a loving and caring parent, as seen throughout the Old Testament. It emphasizes God's role as the originator of all creation and the one who nurtures and sustains His children.

who has qualified you
The word "qualified" comes from the Greek "hikanoo," meaning to make sufficient or to render fit. This implies that believers are not inherently worthy of the inheritance they receive; rather, it is God who makes them worthy. This qualification is not based on human merit but on the redemptive work of Christ. It underscores the transformative power of God's grace, which enables believers to partake in the divine promises.

to share in the inheritance
The concept of "inheritance" is deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition, where it often referred to the Promised Land given to the Israelites. In the New Testament, this inheritance takes on a spiritual dimension, representing the eternal life and blessings promised to believers. The Greek word "kleros" suggests a portion or lot, indicating that each believer has a unique and personal share in God's kingdom. This inheritance is not only a future hope but also a present reality, as believers experience the firstfruits of God's promises.

of the saints
The term "saints" refers to those who are set apart for God's purposes. In the Greek, "hagios" means holy or consecrated. This designation is not reserved for a select few but applies to all believers who are sanctified through Christ. The saints are part of a holy community, called to live in a manner that reflects God's character and to bear witness to His truth in the world.

in the light
"Light" in the biblical context often symbolizes truth, purity, and divine revelation. The Greek word "phos" conveys the idea of illumination and clarity. In contrast to the darkness of sin and ignorance, light represents the knowledge of God and the righteousness that comes from walking in His ways. This phrase highlights the transformative effect of God's presence in the believer's life, guiding them in truth and enabling them to reflect His glory to others. The imagery of light also connects to the broader biblical narrative, where God is consistently portrayed as the source of all light and life.

(12) Giving thanks unto the Father.--These words naturally follow the words "with joyfulness," with which, indeed, they may be grammatically connected. But the "thankfulness" here is, as the context shows, the thankfulness of humility, sensible that from the Father's love we have received all, and can but receive.

Which hath made us meet.--The same word is used in 2Corinthians 3:6, "who hath made us able ministers of the new covenant," and corresponds to the word "sufficient" in St. Paul's previous question (2Corinthians 2:16), "Who is sufficient for these things?" The reference is clearly to God's foreknowledge and call (as in Romans 8:29-30), in virtue of which "we are more than conquerors," and "cannot be separated from His love in Jesus Christ our Lord."

To be partakers of the inheritance of the saints.--Literally, for the part (appointed to us) of the lot of the saints. (Comp. Ephesians 1:11, where, however, the sense is slightly different). The "lot" (like the Old Testament type of the share in the land of Canaan," the lot of their inheritance") is the place assigned to the saints primarily by the grace of God. It may have, as in the case of the type, to be fought for; but it is won not by our own arm, but by "God's hand and His arm, and the light of His countenance, because He has a favour unto us" (Psalm 44:3). Hence, in accordance with St. Paul's usual teaching (especially emphatic in this and the Ephesian Epistle), the whole stress is laid on God's grace, giving us our lot, and "making us meet" to accept it. . . .

Verse 12. - Giving thanks to the Father, who made us (or, you) meet for our (or, your) share in the lot (or, portion) of the saints in the light (vers. 3-5; Acts 20:32; Acts 26:18; Titus 3:7; Ephesians 1:5, 11-14; Galatians 3:29; Romans 8:15-17). The reading "us" is very doubtful. Westcott and Hort, with Tischendorf, prefer "you," as in the two oldest manuscripts: for the transition from first to second person, comp. Colossians 2:13, 14 (vers. 9-12). In the same strain the apostle gave thanks on their account (ver. 5). Thanksgiving" is prominent in this letter (Colossians 2:7; Colossians 3:15, 17; Colossians 4:2), as "joy" in Philippians. The title "the Father" frequently stands alone in St. John's Gospel, coming from the lips of the Son, but St. Paul employs it thus only here and in Ephesians 3:14, R.V.; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6 (comp. 1 John 3:1); see note on ver. 2. Those "give thanks to the Father" who gratefully acknowledge him in "the spirit of adoption" as their Father through Christ (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:1-7; Ephesians 1:5). And the Father makes us meet for the inheritance when he enables us to call him "Father" - "If children, then heirs." "To make meet" (ἱκανόω, the verb found besides only in 2 Corinthians 3:5, 6 in the New Testament, "to make sufficient," R.V.) is "to make competent," "to qualify" for sonic position or work. This meetness, already conferred on the Colossians, consists in their forgiveness (ver. 14) and adoption (Ephesians 1:5-7), which qualify and entitle them to receive the blessings of Christ's kingdom (ver. 13; Romans 5:1, 2; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:5, 6; Titus 3:7), and which anticipate and form the basis of that worthiness of character and fitness of condition in which they are finally to be presented "perfect in Christ" (vers. 10, 22, 28; 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24); "not qui dignos fecit (Vulgate), but qui idoneos fecit" (Ellicott). "Called and (made us meet)" is one of the few characteristic readings of the great Vatican Manuscript, which Westcott and Herr reject (see their 'Introduction,' § 320, and Lightfoot's 'Detached Notes,' p. 251). "The lot of the saints" is that entire wealth of blessedness laid up for the people of God (Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 2:12; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 4:4-7), in which each has his due share or part (Meyer, Ellicott, Lightfoot, less suitably: "parcel of (consisting in) the lot"); comp. ver. 28; Ephesians 4:7. Κλῆρος ("lot," Acts 8:21; Acts 26:18), scarcely distinguishable from the more usual κληρονομία ("inheritance," Colossians 3:24; Ephesians 1:14, etc.; Acts 20:32; Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 1:4), is used in the Old Testament (LXX) of the sacred land as "divided by lot," and as "the lot" assigned to Israel (Numbers 34:13; Deuteronomy 4:21, etc.), also of Jehovah himself as "the lot" of the landless Levites (Deuteronomy 10:9), and of Israel in turn as "the lot" of Jehovah (Deuteronomy 4:20). It is the divinely allocated possession of the people of God in his kingdom. It belongs to them as "saints" (ver. 2; Ephesians 2:19; Acts 20:32; Acts 26:18; Psalm 15; Numbers 35:34; Jeremiah 2:7); and it lies "in the light," in "the kingdom of the Son of God's love" (ver. 13) that is filled with the light of the knowledge of God proceeding from Christ (2 Corinthians 4:1-6; John 1:4; John 8:12), light here manifest "in part" and in conflict with Satanic darkness (ver. 13; Ephesians 5:8-14; Ephesians 6:11, 12; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8; Romans 13:11-13; John 1:5), hereafter the full possession of God's saints (Colossians 3:4; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Romans 13:12; John 12:36; Revelation 21:23-25; Isaiah 60:19, 20). Vers. 13 and 14 proceed to show how this qualification has been gained.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
giving thanks
εὐχαριστοῦντες (eucharistountes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2168: From eucharistos; to be grateful, i.e. to express gratitude; specially, to say grace at a meal.

to the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Father,
Πατρὶ (Patri)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

who
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

has qualified
ἱκανώσαντι (hikanōsanti)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2427: To make sufficient, render fit, qualify. From hikanos; to enable, i.e. Qualify.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

to share
μερίδα (merida)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3310: Feminine of meros; a portion, i.e. Province, share or participation.

in the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

inheritance
κλήρου (klērou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2819: (a) a lot, (b) a portion assigned; hence: a portion of the people of God assigned to one's care, a congregation.

of the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

saints
ἁγίων (hagiōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

light.
φωτί (phōti)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5457: Light, a source of light, radiance. From an obsolete phao; luminousness.


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NT Letters: Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father who made (Coloss. Col Co)
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