Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-duke
Again, here we have you sneaking 'entitlement' in through the backdoor.
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I am being a tad provocative.
Hey, where were you when we had
"Jesus the Sexist" and
"Jesus the Insulter" and
"Jesus would be a Republican" ?
Yes, I the title is a bit provocative to some people.
But I am also trying to be constructive.
Christians have to realize that we all have a common enemy - the fallen corrupted self.
You ask, "How do I know that the portion or entitlement of the saints here in is ultimate?"
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That's right.
What of it ?
The 'or entitlement' is completely of your own manufacture. You have only provided biblical support for 'portion.' - If entitlement is what you believe to be the case then provide biblical evidence to support it.
I gave some appropriate words (synonyms) for the word entitlement.
The comparison to the word
portion is best understood I think, theologically.
The backround of Paul's usage of the phrase the
allotted portion of the saints I think was his comparison of the dividing up of the good land of Canaan to each tribes entitled lot.
Take for example a father who cuts a cake in to equal portions for his children.
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Funny you should mention that.
The first time I noticed the word
portion as in
"the allotted portion of the saints" what I envisioned was a Betty Crocker commercial where some tasty cake is being sliced up in different portions for desert.
I thought - "That is interesting. Christ is like a cake being portioned out at desert ?"
So I appreciate your comparison. A bit latter I came to see how the whole Bible best interprets itself. And the allotted portion of the saints should remind us of the Good Land of Canaan being divided up by lots and distributed to the Israelites in the book of
Joshua[b].
Since you are perhaps not a Bible reading man, you are see [b]portion of the saints and think of other things.
Doesn't hurt to expand.
Are the children 'entitled' to their portion, irrespective of their behaviour? - Can you provide biblical support that they are?
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I don't think you case is too hefty there. Paul says that the Father has qualified the believers. It is from that phrase
"qualified you for a share" from which i derive the bases to think of entitlement.
Just a few verses afterwards he explains HOW the Father has so qualified the believers. It is through the redemption of Christ.
" ... who has qualified you for a share of the allotted portion of t he saints in the light ... In whom [Christ] we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (See vs. 12,14)
He qualified us for this eternal entitlement by becoming incarnated and dying a redemptive death on His cross. Otherwise no one could be qualified to this entitlement, to their allotted portion.
At this point it would be good to see how other English versions have rendered
Col. 1:12
KJ21 giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
ASV giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;
AMP giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light.
AMPC Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.
BRG Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
CSB giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.
CEB and by giving thanks with joy to the Father. He made it so you could take part in the inheritance, in light granted to God’s holy people.
CJB giving thanks to the Father for having made you fit to share in the inheritance of his people in the light.
CEV I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light.
DARBY giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit for sharing the portion of the saints in light,
DLNT giving-thanks to the Father having qualified you for your part of the share of the saints in the light,
DRA Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light:
ERV and give thanks to the Father. He has made you able to have what he has promised to give all his holy people, who live in the light.
ESVUK giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
EXB And you will joyfully give thanks [or …have patience with joy, giving thanks] to the Father who has made you able to have a share in ·all that he has prepared for his people in the kingdom of light
As you can see most English versions seem to favor
inheritance. But there are some notable exceptions.
The main thing from which I have no second thoughts on, is that Christians are privileged by the qualification of God that this Person Christ would be apportioned out in pieces or lots or sections or segments and distributions.
These rich entitlements are enjoyed now and throughout eternity.
That is a infinitely valuable inheritance, an
ultimate entitlement.