What does Colossians 1:12 mean?

Explanation

Colossians 1:12 gives thanks to God the Father for qualifying believers to share in the inheritance reserved for the saints in the kingdom of light.

The term "saints in light" refers to believers who have been transferred from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus Christ, characterized by light, signifying purity, holiness, and truth.

"Meet" or "qualified" denotes that believers have been made fit, or sufficient, which is not through their own merit but through the redemptive work of Christ. The inheritance mentioned here is often understood to be the eternal life and blessings that await believers in heaven.

Historical Context

This verse is part of a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Colossae, a city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

The letter was likely penned while Paul was in prison around AD 60-62.

During this time, the church was facing false teachings that were a blend of Jewish legalism, Eastern philosophy, and local traditions.

Paul addresses these issues by reiterating the supremacy of Christ and the sufficiency of His work on the cross for salvation.

He emphasizes the transformation that comes through faith in Christ, separating believers from the power of darkness.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, various insights can be drawn from this verse.

• Reformed Theology would emphasize that human beings can do nothing to earn their salvation; it is solely the work of God who qualifies believers for their inheritance.
• Wesleyan-Arminianism might focus on how divine grace enables humans to respond to God’s call and thus participate in the inheritance by their willingness to live in the light.
• Catholicism may highlight the continuation of the believer's journey to holiness, rooted in the initial qualification that comes through the grace of Christ’s sacrifice but also involving cooperatively living out the faith through good works.
• Eastern Orthodoxy would likely draw on the mystical aspect of communion with God and theosis, becoming partakers in the divine nature through union with Christ.

Practical Applications

Colossians 1:12 has several practical applications:

• Believers should live a life of gratitude, recognizing that their salvation and status as God's holy people are gifts from God.
• Christians are encouraged to walk in the light, leading a life of righteousness and holiness, in response to the grace that has made them part of God's kingdom.
• There is a call to humility, understanding that no one is made "meet" or "qualified" by their actions but by God's sovereign choice and mercy.

Cross-References

• Ephesians 1:18 - "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,"
• 1 Peter 1:4 - "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,"
• 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."
• Romans 8:17 - "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

Language Study

• Giving thanks (Greek: εὐχαριστοῦντες, eucharistountes): expressing gratitude, often related to the Eucharist, which literally means ‘thanksgiving’.
• Father (Greek: Πατέρα, Patera): Referring to God the Father, indicating a familial relationship with believers.
• Meet or Qualified (Greek: ἱκανώσαντι, hikanosanti): To make sufficient or competent; to empower or enable.
• Partakers (Greek: μέριδα, merida): Portion or share of something.
• Inheritance (Greek: κληρονομία, kleronomia): Often used to mean a possession received by an heir upon the death of the predecessor.
• Saints (Greek: ἁγίοις, hagiois): Separated ones, holy ones, or consecrated persons.
• Light (Greek: φωτὶ, photi): Symbolizes purity, divine revelation, truth, and life.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient religions and myths, the concept of light often represents knowledge, purity, and divine connection.

In ancient Egyptian belief, light was associated with Horus and later with Ra, the sun god, signifying life and order.

In Greek mythology, Apollo was the god of light and truth.

The theme of an inheritance or divine allotment can be found in several ancient Near Eastern cultures, often tied to the favor of the gods or as a result of heroism or virtue.

Scientific Perspectives

Science considers light in the physical sense , wavelengths visible to the human eye. Light's metaphorical use in religion parallels how light enables vision and understanding.

While science does not validate spiritual experiences empirically, studies in psychology and neurology explore the profound effects of religious belief and practices on human cognition and behavior.

The transformative power that religious conversion or profound spiritual experiences can have on individuals is an area of interest in psychology, which can shed light on the deeper meanings of being "partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light" as a psychosocial phenomenon.

Commentaries

• Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary frames this verse as a display of the Christian grace of thanksgiving.

It emphasizes the importance of being thankful for the spiritual blessings in Christ.

• John Gill's Exposition of the Bible discusses the Father's role in preparing believers for their inheritance, accentuating that it is not something believers obtain by their own merits but by the goodness and power of God.
• The Pulpit Commentary notes that this thanksgiving is for spiritual privileges, focusing on the process of being made fit for the inheritance, which comes solely from the operation of divine power.
• Benson Commentary elaborates that the "inheritance of the saints" is understood to be the present and future blessings of the Gospel, as well as eternal life.

The commentary highlights that God is the source of every good possessed and expected.