Colossians 1:11-12 11 by being strengthened with all strength according to the might of his glory for all endurance and patience, with joy, 12giving thanks to the Father who makes us sufficient for the share of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
The long sentence begun in verse 9 continues with a dependent adverbial participle that modifies how the Colossians can walk worthy of the Lord (verse 10). The word “strength” is repeated twice, in the participle being strengthened (dynamoumenoi) and then with the object of this strengthening (dynamei). The participle is passive, which indicates that this is an answer to prayer because God is the one who gives the ability and power.
Paul emphasizes this even more with the next phrase according to the might of his glory. There is nothing greater or more powerful than God’s glory. God’s glory represents his holy presence. There is no one or nothing in all creation that can even come close to the presence of God without God’s gracious invitation. To peer into God’s glory in Christ taps into the very power of the Creator and Redeemer of all things.
This same power is available to believers to help them in their struggles and suffering by giving endurance (hypomonēn) and patience (makrothymian). These two important words give assurance and hope to believers as we experience temptations, suffering, and various levels of persecution. We do not need to fear that God does not see our troubles or knows our needs.
The stacking of four words related to God’s awesome and unfathomable power creates a deep sense of joy and thankfulness. Paul’s intercession for the Colossians ends with thanksgiving because he realized that God is able and willing to provide all we need to do his will and carry out his purposes for good works in this world. As Paul will point out in this letter, the one through whom God provides all this to us is Jesus Christ. Paul lifts up Christ while at the same time correcting any misunderstandings of the Colossians.
The awesome and omnipotent Father makes us sufficient to be part of the great throng of his people. The attributive participle sufficient (hikanōsanti) describes how the Father can quality or authorize believers to receive the very special inheritance of eternal life. The saints of the light likely refers to God’s people who have already gone ahead of us to heaven. God provides all the strength we need to make it through this life and all the bad things that may happen to us so that we can make it to heaven. This is not an empty promise because it is based on the holy character of God himself.
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