“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son — the verbs (rhyomai, rescue; methistēmi, transfer) are aorist: the transfer is accomplished. 'Domain of darkness' (exousia tou skotous) is demonic realm, cosmic opposition to God. 'Kingdom of his beloved Son' (basileia tou hyiou tēs agapēs autou) is Christ's reign. The passage is not mere metaphorical enlightenment but cosmic relocation: believers are repositioned in Christ's dominion. The 'beloved Son' (huios agapētos) echoes baptism-language and Psalm 2.
Church Fathers on Colossians 1:13
“Who delivered us,” he says, “from the power of darkness.” The whole is of Him, the giving both of these things and those; for nowhere is any achievement of ours. “From the power of darkness,” he says, that is, of error, the dominion of the devil. He said not “darkness,” but “power”; for it had great power over us, and held us fast. For it is grievous indeed even to be under the devil at all, but to be so “with power,” this is far more grievous. “And translated us,” he says,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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