Colossians 1:12

1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

Colossians 2:20

2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world?

Colossians 2:22

2:22 These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings.

Colossians 4:18

4:18 I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.


tn BDAG 473 s.v. ἱκανόω states, “τινὰ εἴς τι someone for someth. Col 1:12.” The point of the text is that God has qualified the saints for a “share” or “portion” in the inheritance of the saints.

tn Grk “the inheritance of the saints.” The genitive noun τῶν ἁγίων (twn Jagiwn) is a possessive genitive: “the saints’ inheritance.”

tn See the note on the phrase “elemental spirits” in 2:8.

tn The expression “founded as they are” brings out the force of the Greek preposition κατά (kata).

tn Grk “The commands and teachings of men.”

tn Grk “the greeting by my hand, of Paul.”

tn Or “my imprisonment.”

tc Most witnesses, including a few important ones (א2 D Ψ 075 0278 Ï lat sy), conclude this letter with ἀμήν (amhn, “amen”). Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Further, the external evidence for the omission is quite compelling (א* A B C F G 048 6 33 81 1739* 1881 sa). The strongly preferred reading is therefore the omission of ἀμήν.