What Does Colossians 1:12 Mean in the King James?
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Father does not wait for you to become fit for the inheritance; he is the one who makes you fit to receive your share.
THE MEANING
The Father has made you fit to share in the allotted inheritance belonging to the set-apart ones, in light. Your place in this share is received from him, not manufactured by your own worthiness.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
You must make yourself worthy before you can have a share among God’s people.
THE ROOT
ἱκανώσαντι
hikanōsanti
GROWS FROM
ἱκαν-
hikan-
Sufficient, enough; rendered fit.
“meet” in this verse is hikanōsanti. The Greek verb means to make sufficient or qualify. The Father is the one who renders you fit for the share, so the qualification is received.
ALSO GROWS
hikanos: Sufficient, fit
ἱκανός
This adjective carries the stem’s sense of being enough for what is at hand.
hikanotēs: Sufficiency, competence
ἱκανότης
The same stem names sufficiency in 2 Corinthians 3:5, where sufficiency comes from God.
κλήρου
klērou
GROWS FROM
κλῆρος
klēros
A lot or an allotted share.
The word translated “inheritance” carries the sense of a portion assigned to someone. The phrase places you among those sharing an allotted portion, rather than describing a share you create for yourself.
ALSO GROWS
klēronomia: Inheritance, heritage
κληρονομία
This related word names the inheritance itself, as in Ephesians 1:18.
klēronomos: Heir, one who receives an allotted share
κληρονόμος
The heir receives a portion by inheritance, illuminating the received share in this verse.
ἁγίων
hagiōn
GROWS FROM
ἁγι-
hagi-
Set apart, consecrated.
“Saints” names people set apart, and the verse places their allotted share in light. The word describes belonging to a set-apart people, not a claim that they are flawless.
ALSO GROWS
hagiazō: Set apart, consecrate
ἁγιάζω
The verb makes explicit the setting apart carried by the word for “saints.”
hagiasmos: Setting apart, consecration
ἁγιασμός
This related noun names the condition or process of being set apart.
THE PATTERN
A share from God is received as an allotted portion, not fashioned by the recipient.
For the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:THE THREAD
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,Both verses use the κληρ- inheritance family: Colossians names your share among the set-apart ones, while Ephesians speaks of God’s inheritance in them. The shared root opens the relationship in both directions: you receive a portion, and you are also described as his portion.
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