Colossians 1:13

Delivered. Gr. rhuomai, “to draw off,” “to rescue.” This is the word used by Paul in Rom. 7:24 in his anguished cry, “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” The “Deliverer” to come out of Zion (Rom. 11:26) is ho rhuomenos, “the rescuer.” In the present passage the Father is presented as the One who rescues men from the thralldom of Satan.

Power. Gr. exousia, “authority.” From the evil realm where the prince of darkness presides as merciless tyrant, the Divine Conqueror has rescued His saints. No longer are they subject to usurped authority.

Darkness. Note the contrast with “inheritance ... in light” (v. 12). From the authority of the prince of darkness the child of God is transferred into the realm of light.

Hath translated. Gr. methistemi, “to transport,” “to remove.” Compare the use of the word in Luke 16:4; Acts 13:22; 19:26, and of a related form in 1 Cor. 13:2. Josephus uses the word in speaking of the transplanting of the Israelites into the kingdom of Assyria at the time of the invasion of Tiglath-pileser III (. Antiquities ix. 11. 1 [235]).

Kingdom. That is, the kingdom of grace (see on Matt. 4:17; 5:3).

Of his dear Son. Literally, “the Son of His love,” meaning, perhaps, the Son who is the object of God’s love (cf. on Matt. 3:17; Eph. 1:6).