Colossians 1:27 27to whom God willed to make known what is the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
God’s wonderful plan of salvation is for all people. To whom points back to the “holy ones” of verse 26. God’s plan is expressed in the word willed (ēthelēsen), which can mean wish, desire, or plan. God’s plan of salvation was intended for all humans from the beginning. We are all descendants of Adam and Eve. We share the same problems of sin, selfishness, and pride. We all need the same solution. God’s plan requires helping people come to know (gnōrisai) his glorious nature. This is the opposite of what Paul wrote about in Romans 1:18-32 where people reject God’s glory and replace it with idolatry.
Paul focuses in on the wealth or richness of this glory. People seek wealth in things of this world. These things can disappoint us and even control us. They divert our focus from God to sin and self. The wealth of God’s glory is beyond comprehension, and just to think that we will get to inherit God’s wealth of glory as his sons and daughters. We lost this glory because of sin (Romans 3:23) but regain it through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).
God’s glory is expressed most clearly and in ways we can understand in the mystery. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a mystery because it was hidden for long ages. This word was a favorite in many religions and cults of Paul’s day. One example are the so-called “mystery religions” that had some similarities with early Christianity, including ritual meals (Lord’s Supper), ritual washings (baptism), initiatory activities and conversions, a dying and rising hero, and various terms found throughout Paul’s letters such as “mystery” and “revelation.” It is possible that some early Christians were converts from the mysteries. Paul’s mystery was very specific and focus on Jesus Christ. This was a message that had a similar ring to eat with these other religions, but it was based on historical fact and evidenced in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The Christian mystery was believable, but the problem Christians like those in Colossae faced was compromise and distortion of this message from false teachings.
Paul’s mission of preaching the word (verse 25) called him to take the message of this mystery to the Gentiles. Gentiles (ethnesin) is literally “the nations” and typically in the New Testament refers to everyone who was not a Jew. The world needs to hear the gospel of God’s grace. For many people, this message remains a mystery because 1) either they have not heard or 2) they have heard but ignored or rejected it.
Paul defines this mystery as Christ in you, the hope of glory. Against the mystery religions with their claims of divine experiences, Paul now shows that believers can have a relationship with the very one who is the image of the invisible God, spoke creation into existence, and holds creation together (verses 15-16). Paul often uses the idea of being “in Christ,” now he reverses that and writes how believers can have Christ in them. This is the power of presence. This hope is available to all people, Jews and the “nations.” The greatest thing for Paul was to be in contact and experience with Christ (Philippians 1:21). From this relationship came his hope. He experienced this hope in this life while he was imprisoned. It gave him assurance for resurrection from death. The focus of this is glory, which is the promise of the gospel. This is not a selfish focused afterlife of pleasure but being in the presence of the one who created us. We cannot fully grasp the meaning of this in terms of love. We get hints of it in this life, but it is much deeper and all-encompassing. Our highest goal in this life ought to be seeking Christ’s glorious presence.
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