Bible Strands
Colossians 1:13
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul, writing to the Colossian church, is mid-chain in a series of participial clauses (vv. 12–14) cataloguing what Christ has accomplished for them.
The words — ἐξουσία (exousia, G1849) is not a vague "darkness" but a domain of authority, a rival jurisdiction with a ruler; the BSB's "dominion" captures this better than a simple "power."
The thread — Acts 26:18 uses nearly the same movement: from the power of Satan to God, with the added note of receiving inheritance. Ephesians 5:8 compresses the same transfer into a single "once/now" contrast.
Why it lands — The verse asserts a change of legal standing effected by an external act, not a shift in feeling or effort; the reader is asked to stop negotiating with the old dominion and act from the new one.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Cross-references
- Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
- Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
- 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Titus 3:3 For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12 encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
- Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts,
- Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
- Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.