Charles Ellicott Commentary Colossians 1:12

"giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;" — Colossians 1:12 (ASV)

Giving thanks to 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, aware that from the Father’s love we have received all, and can only receive.

Who has made us fit.—The same word is used in 2 Corinthians 3:6, who has made us able ministers of the new covenant, and corresponds to the word “sufficient” in St. Paul's previous question (2 Corinthians 2:16), Who is sufficient for these things? The reference is clearly to God’s foreknowledge and call , 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. (Compare to 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 (Psalms 44:3). Therefore, 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 fit” to accept it.

In light.—Properly, in the light. See Ephesians 4:8-14—a passage dwelling on the idea of the kingdom of light, almost as strongly and exhaustively as St. John himself (1 John 1:5–7, and others). “In the light” (opposed to “the power of darkness” of the next verse) is in the light of God’s countenance, revealed in the face of Jesus Christ.