Christ In You the Hope of Glory: What Does Colossians 1:27 Mean?

Colossians 1:27 reads, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” King James Version (KJV)

Also, see the meaning of In the Twinkling of an Eye in the Bible.

Christ In You the Hope of Glory: Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

1:24-29 Both the sufferings of the Head and of the members are called the sufferings of Christ, and make up, as it were, one body of sufferings.

But He suffered for the redemption of the church; we suffer on other accounts; for we do but slightly taste that cup of afflictions of which Christ first drank deeply.

A Christian may be said to fill up that which remains of the sufferings of Christ, when he takes up his cross, and after the pattern of Christ, bears patiently the afflictions God allots to him.

Let us be thankful that God has made known to us mysteries hidden from ages and generations, and has showed the riches of his glory among us. As Christ is preached among us, let us seriously inquire, whether he dwells and reigns in us; for this alone can warrant our assured hope of his glory.

We must be faithful to death, through all trials, that we may receive the crown of life, and obtain the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls.

Also, see the meaning of Jesus Is the Same Yesterday Today and Forever in the Bible.

Colossians 1:27 | Pulpit Bible Commentary

Verse 27. – To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery amongst the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:5-10; Acts 11:17, 18; Romans 11:11, 12, 25-32; Romans 15:9-12). “Willed” stands emphatically first in the Greek.

The revelation was so momentous in its issue, so signal in its method, and so contrary to human foresight and prejudice, that it proceeded evidently from” the will of God” (vers. 1, 9; Colossians 4:12; comp. Romans 9:18): “Who was I,” said St. Peter, “that I could withstand God?”

The Ephesian letter delights to dwell on God’s will as the cause of the whole counsel and work of salvation. The Revisers have rendered the verb by “was pleased,” the equivalent of εὐδοκέω (ver. 19; Ephesians 1:5, 9; etc.).

There is no need to seek a reference to free grace in the verb “willed;” the two ideas are concurrent, but distinct (see, however, Lightfoot). The apostle’s mind is filled with amazement as he contemplates the boundless riches which the salvation of the Gentiles revealed in God himself (comp. Romans 11:33-36; Romans 16:25-27; Ephesians 3:8-10).

“The glory of this mystery” is the splendour with which it invests the Divine character (on “glory,” see note, ver. 11; and for “riches of glory,” Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 3:16; Philippians 4:19; Romans 9:23). Amongst the Gentiles: “semi-local clause, defining the sphere in which the riches of the glory is more specially evinced” (Ellicott).

At last this mystery is defined: which is Christ in you (Colossians 2:2, 3; 1 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 3:17; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 4:19; Romans 8:10). By a bold metonymy, the mystery is identified with its subject or content.

It is “Christ” himself (see Colossians 2:2, note), the Divine secret of the ages, the burden of all revelation; and “Christ in you” (Colossians 3:11), Christ dwelling in Gentile carts – this is the wonder of wonders! So the “sinners of the Gentiles” receive “the like [equal] gift” with the heirs of the promises (Acts 11:17).

By a further and yet bolder apposition, this mystery of Christ in Colossian believers is made one with the hope of glory (vers. 5, 23; Colossians 3:4; Ephesians 1:12-14, 18; Philippians 3:20, 21; Romans 2:7; Romans 8:18-25; 1 Corinthians 15:43; 1 John 3:2), of which it is a pledge and a foretaste (vers. 4, 5; Colossians 3:15; Ephesians 1:13, 14; Romans 8:10-17).

This glory is that which the Christian will wear in his perfected, heavenly state (Colossians 3:4; 1 Corinthians 15:43; Romans 8:18), when he will fully reflect the glory he now beholds in God through Christ (“the glory of this mystery”): compare the double “glory” of 2 Corinthians 3:18.

The rights of the Gentile believer in Christ are therefore complete (Ephesians 3:6). Possessing him now in his heart, he anticipates all that he will bestow in heaven (on “hope,” see ver. 5).

Also, see the meaning of Without the Shedding of Blood in the Bible.