Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
God was pleased (hqelhsen o qeov). First aorist active indicative of qelw, to will, to wish. "God willed" this change from hidden mystery to manifestation.
To make known (gnwrisai). First aorist active infinitive of gnwrizw (from ginwskw). Among the Gentiles (en toiv eqnesin). This is the crowning wonder to Paul that God had included the Gentiles in his redemptive grace, "the riches of the glory of this mystery" (to ploutov thv dochv tou musthriou toutou) and that Paul himself has been made the minister of this grace among the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1-2). He feels the high honour keenly and meets the responsibility humbly.
Which (o). Grammatical gender (neuter) agreeing with musthriou (mystery), supported by A B P Vulg., though ov (who) agreeing with Xristov in the predicate is read by Aleph C D L. At any rate the idea is simply that the personal aspect of "this mystery" is "Christ in you the hope of glory" (Xristov en umin h elpiv thv dochv). He is addressing Gentiles, but the idea of en here is in, not among. It is the personal experience and presence of Christ in the individual life of all believers that Paul has in mind, the indwelling Christ in the heart as in Ephesians 3:17. He constitutes also the hope of glory for he is the Sekina of God. Christ is our hope now (I Timothy 1:1) and the consummation will come (Romans 8:18).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Colossians 1:27:
Ephesians 1:8
1 Timothy 1:1
1 Timothy 3:16
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