Colossians 1:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God has reached into the dark and carried us out, setting us down safe inside the kingdom of His beloved Son.
The Context of Colossians 1:13
Paul is writing to believers in Colossae, a town in the Lycus Valley of Asia Minor that he had never visited. He opens the letter with thanksgiving, and this line is part of a long prayer of praise for what God has already done for them in Christ.
What Does Colossians 1:13 Mean?
Paul uses the language of a great rescue. There was a dominion of darkness, a place where we were held, and we did not free ourselves. God came and delivered us, then moved us bodily from one kingdom into another. The word he chooses pictures a whole people being relocated, lifted out of one country and resettled in a new one. We were carried out, and the carrying was finished before we understood it.
Notice where we are set down: in the kingdom of His dear Son, the Son He loves. We are brought past the border and all the way home into the country where Christ is King and where His Father's love for Him surrounds us too. The same arms strong enough to break the hold of darkness are gentle enough to call this Son dear. We have been moved into the safest place there is.
Colossians 1:13 in the Original Language
methistemi (μεθίστημι), 'translated' -- to move or transplant from one place to another, as a conqueror would resettle a whole population.
How to Apply Colossians 1:13 Today
When the past feels like a country we cannot leave, this verse tells us we already have. We did not arrange our own rescue, and we do not hold ourselves in the kingdom now. We rest in the love God has for His Son, the love that reached down and brought us in.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colossians 1:13
What does Colossians 1:13 mean?
God has reached into the dark and carried us out, setting us down safe inside the kingdom of His beloved Son.
What is the context of Colossians 1:13?
Paul is writing to believers in Colossae, a town in the Lycus Valley of Asia Minor that he had never visited. He opens the letter with thanksgiving, and this line is part of a long prayer of praise for what God has already done for them in Christ.
How can I apply Colossians 1:13 today?
When the past feels like a country we cannot leave, this verse tells us we already have. We did not arrange our own rescue, and we do not hold ourselves in the kingdom now. We rest in the love God has for His Son, the love that reached down and brought us in.