John Calvin 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. Again he returns to thanksgiving, so that he may take this opportunity to list the blessings that had been conferred upon them through Christ, and thus he begins a full portrayal of Christ. For this was the only remedy to fortify the Colossians against all the snares by which the false apostles tried to entrap them—to understand accurately who Christ was.

For why is it that we are carried about with so many strange doctrines (Hebrews 13:9), if not because we do not perceive the excellence of Christ? For Christ alone makes all other things suddenly vanish.

Therefore, there is nothing that Satan tries so hard to accomplish as to bring mists to obscure Christ, because he knows that by this means the way is opened for every kind of falsehood. This, therefore, is the only means of retaining, as well as restoring, pure doctrine—to present Christ as he is with all his blessings, so that his excellence may be truly perceived.

The issue here is not about the name. Papists, like us, acknowledge one and the same Christ; yet, in the meantime, how great a difference there is between us and them, since they, after confessing Christ to be the Son of God, transfer his excellence to others, and scatter it here and there. Thus they leave him nearly empty, or at least rob him of a great part of his glory, so that, it is true, they call him the Son of God, but nevertheless, he is not such as the Father intended him to be for us.

If, however, Papists would cordially embrace what is contained in this chapter, we would soon be in perfect agreement, but the whole of Popery would fall to the ground, for it cannot stand except through ignorance of Christ. This will undoubtedly be acknowledged by everyone who will only consider the main point of this first chapter. For his main objective here is that we may know that Christ is the beginning, middle, and end—that all things must be sought from him—that nothing is, or can be found, apart from him. Now, therefore, let the readers carefully and attentively observe how Paul portrays Christ to us.

Who hath made us meet. He is still speaking of the Father, because he is the beginning and efficient cause (as they say) of our salvation. As the term God is more distinctly expressive of majesty, so the term Father conveys the idea of clemency and benevolent disposition.

It is fitting for us to contemplate both as existing in God, so that his majesty may inspire us with fear and reverence, and his fatherly love may secure our full confidence. Therefore, it is not without good reason that Paul has joined these two things, if, after all, you prefer the rendering that the old interpreter has followed, and which accords with some very ancient Greek manuscripts. At the same time, there will be no inconsistency in saying that he contents himself with the single term, Father.

Furthermore, as it is necessary that his incomparable grace should be expressed by the term Father, so it is also no less necessary that we should, by the term God, be roused to admire such great goodness, that he, who is God, has condescended to such an extent.

But for what kindness does he give thanks to God? He gives thanks because God has made him and others meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints. For we are born children of wrath, exiles from God’s kingdom. It is God’s adoption that alone makes us meet. Now, adoption depends on an unmerited election. The Spirit of regeneration is the seal of adoption. He adds, in light, so that there might be a contrast—as opposed to the darkness of Satan’s kingdom.