Christ in you, the hope of glory
The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
The Colossian heresy boasted of a “fullness” of knowledge possible only through their mystical experience. But Paul declared that the fullness of the mystery is found only in Christ. By “mystery” he meant something once concealed but then revealed. This contrasted with the Colossian heretics’ notion that a mystery was a secret teaching known only to an exclusive group and unknown to the masses.
The church was unknown in the Old Testament because it had been kept hidden for ages and generations. In fact, said Paul, it is only now disclosed to the saints. Since the church is Christ’s body, resulting from His death on the cross, it could not possibly have been in existence in the Old Testament.
Indeed, Jesus, when on earth, said it was yet future (Matt. 16:16–18). Since the church is Christ’s body, welded together by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13), the church’s birthday occurred when this baptism took place (Acts 1:5; 2). Soon Saul recognized that this mysterious body of Christ, the church, was in existence and that he was persecuting it (Acts 9:4; cf. Gal. 1:13).
For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
God has chosen to make known this mystery to New Testament saints. He willed in His sovereign mercy to reveal His eternal purpose with all its glorious riches (i.e., divine effulgence or blazing splendor). The amazing thing is that this is now revealed among the Gentiles, whereas previously God’s special revelation was to the Jews (Rom. 2:17; 3:1–2; 9:4). Now those “who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). Those “without hope and without God” (Eph. 2:12) have been given a glorious hope which is Christ in you (i.e., in you Gentiles; Col. 1:27). Because of “the glorious riches” (lit., “the riches of the glory”), believers are indwelt by Christ, the hope of glory. They are thus “in Christ” (
Paul was interested in believers not remaining spiritual babies (cf. 1 Cor. 3:1–2) but in becoming spiritually mature (cf. Heb. 5:11–14). Elsewhere Paul prayed for complete sanctification of believers (1 Thes. 5:23).