Colossians 1:27

would Lit., willed, or (as R.V.) was pleased. All was sovereign mercy. Cp. Matthew 11:27.

the riches of the glory "Riches" is a favourite term with St Paul, in reference to Divine things. Cp. Romans 2:4; Romans 10:12; Romans 11:12; Rom 11:33; 1 Corinthians 1:5; 2Co 8:9; 2 Corinthians 9:11; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:4; Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 3:8; Philippians 4:19; below, Colossians 2:2. For this exact phrase, so pregnant with light and joy, "riches of glory," see Romans 9:23; Ephesians 1:18 (a close parallel), Colossians 3:16.

" Glory:" the word so used gives us the thought not only of greatness, wonder, and bliss, but of God as the secret of it all.

among the Gentiles Lit., "in the Gentiles." i.e., this "wealth of glory" in the disclosed mystery is now shewn to the saints as realized in Gentile as well as Jewish believers. The "Mystery" is, in fact, the Divine plan of a Church gathered from all mankind, and filled, in its every member, and in the resulting total of its life and power, with Jesus Christ. For commentary, see the Ep. to the Ephesians, esp. Colossians 2:11 to Colossians 3:21.

which is "The mystery passes into the living Christ" (Bp Alexander, in The Speaker's Commentary).

Christ in you The rendering "among you" (A.V., margin) is equally good grammatically. Alford and Ellicott adopt it, while remarking that it includes and implies "in you." Lightfoot, not without hesitation, thinks "in you" more probable. R.V. retains "in you," without marginal alternative. This surely is right. The deeply kindred passage in Ephesians 2 culminates with the wonderful possibility and fact of the "dwelling of Christ in our heartsby faith;" it makes this the central sanctuary, so to speak, of the work and experience of grace. In this briefer but equally intense passage it seems congruous that the climax of thought should be the same. We would say rather that "in you" includes and implies "among you" than vice versâ. This appears to be, on the whole, Lightfoot's view. He compares (besides Ephesians 3) Romans 8:10; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 4:19. And see Galatians 1:16; Galatians 2:20; Revelation 3:20.

True, "Christ in you" is a thought not identical with "Christ dwelling in the heart." The latter (see our notes on Ephesians 3:17) is so to speak the development and full realization of the former. But we mean that the tone of these words, in the light of the fuller kindred (Ephesian) passage, leads us rightly to see herethe richest possible meaning in the briefer phrase.

the hope of glory See again Ephesians 3 for commentary. The Indwelling of the Lord in the saints, received by faith, in the power of the Holy Ghost, is connected by indissoluble links of truth and thought with the foreview of blessings "in the Church, in Christ Jesus, throughout all ages."

Who shall discuss and analyse such a statement? It is a matter for adoring wonder, simplest faith, and a most blessed and genuine experience, now as when it was written. While our justification in Christ is, from one all-important point, the sure reason and pledge of our coming "glory" (Romans 5:1-2), Christ's most true and living presence as the Risen One in us is, as it were, the very bud of the celestial flower, the actual dawn of the eternal day. Cp. 1 Timothy 1:1.

" Glory:" undoubtedly, in connexion with the word "hope," the word points to the heavenly Future, in which alike in the saint and in the Church of the saints the unveiled Face of God will develope an eternity of holy bliss and power, all drawn from Him and all spent for Him. Cp. Psalms 73:24; Acts 7:55; Romans 5:2; Romans 8:18; Romans 8:21; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Ephesians 1:18; Philippians 3:21; below, Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 5:1; 1 Peter 5:4; 1 Peter 5:10; Jude 1:24; Revelation 21:11; Revelation 21:23.