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Christ in you, the hope of glory: Colossians 1:27

What Christian writers said, from about AD 198 to 1930.

23 passages · 13 writers · 7 centuries

The short answer

Calvin (1548) says Paul calls Christ the hope of glory so that the Colossians may know nothing is wanting to them for complete blessedness when they have obtained Christ. Fausset (1871) reads Christ in you as the hidden life now and the hope of glory as the life to be manifested hereafter. Owen (1681) says Christ's presence in believers gives them an assured hope of glory and works their souls into an expectation of it. Maclaren (1902) says to have Christ is to have a hope certain as memory, and that if Christ is in us his life guarantees ours. Fausset (1871) calls the mystery redemption for the whole Gentile world as well as the Jews, and Chrysostom (c. 398-404) says the glory of the mystery is most apparent among the Gentiles.

The mystery among the Gentiles

10 passages · 8 writers · 100s to 1900s

Fausset and Chrysostom take the mystery among the Gentiles to concern the Gentile world, Fausset calling it redemption for the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Clement says the riches of the glory of the mystery in the Gentiles is faith and hope in Christ, and Calvin says all that secret is contained in Christ. Spurgeon says Christ is the mystery, the riches, and the glory.

c. 398–404 · John Chrysostom, Homilies on Colossians (In epistulam ad Colossenses homiliae 1-12) 5

“What is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles.” He hath spoken loftily, and accumulated emphasis, seeking, out of his great earnestness, for amplification upon amplification. For this also is an amplification, the saying indefinitely, “The riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles.” For it is most of all apparent among the Gentiles, as he also says elsewhere, “And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.” (Rom. xv. 9.) For the great glory of this mystery is apparent among others also, but much more among these. For, on a sudden, to have brought men more senseless than stones to the dignity of Angels, simply through bare words, and faith alone, without any laboriousness, is indeed glory and riches of mystery: just as if one were to take a dog, quite consumed with hunger and the mange, foul, and loathsome to see, and not so much as able to move, but lying cast out, and make him all at once into a man, and to display him upon the royal throne.

1548 · John Calvin, Commentary on Colossians 1.27

Which is Christ in you. What he had said as to the Gentiles generally he applies to the Colossians themselves, that they may more effectually recognize in themselves the grace of God, and may embrace it with greater reverence. He says, therefore, which is Christ, meaning by this, that all that secret is contained in Christ, and that all the riches of heavenly wisdom are obtained by them when they have Christ, as we shall find him stating more openly a little afterwards. He adds, in you, because they now possess Christ, from whom they were lately so much estranged, that nothing could exceed it. Lastly, he calls Christ the hope of glory, that they may know that nothing is wanting to them for complete blessedness when they have obtained Christ. This, however, is a wonderful work of God, that in earthen and frail vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7) the hope of heavenly glory resides.

1871 · A. R. Fausset, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on Colossians 1.27

Alford translates, "Christ among you," to answer to "this mystery among the Gentiles." But the whole clause, "Christ IN you (Eph 3:17) the hope of glory," answers to "this mystery," and not to the whole sentence, "this mystery among the Gentiles." What is made known "among you Gentiles" is, "Christ in you (now by faith as your hidden life, Col 3:3; Ga 2:20) the hope of glory" (your manifested life). The contrast (antithesis) between "Christ in you" now as your hidden life, and "the hope of glory" hereafter to be manifested, requires this translation.

Christ in the believer

13 passages · 6 writers · 1600s to 1900s

Owen says Christ's presence with believers gives them an assured hope of glory, and Henry calls Christ in us the only hope of glory that will not make us ashamed. Maclaren says Christ in us is our present righteousness and our hope of a future glory. Spurgeon says Christ in you is glory begun, and Law says Christ formed in us is our only salvation.

1681 · John Owen, The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded 1.5

By it are we purified, sanctified, saved. And, to sum up the whole of its excellency and efficacy, it is a principal way of the working of Christ as inhabiting in us: Col. i. 27, “Christ in you the hope of glory.” Where Christ evidenceth his presence with us, he gives us an infallible hope of glory; he gives us an assured pledge of it, and worketh our souls into an expectation of it. Hope in general is but an uncertain expectation of a future good which we desire; but as it is a gospel grace, all uncertainty is removed from it, which would hinder us of the advantage intended in it. It is an earnest expectation, proceeding from faith, trust, and confidence, accompanied with longing desires of enjoyment.

1684 · John Owen, Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ 1

Wherefore the blessed and blessing sight which we shall have of God will be always “in the face of Jesus Christ.” Therein will that manifestation of the glory of God, in his infinite perfections, and all their blessed operations, so shine into our souls, as shall immediately fill us with peace, rest, and glory. These things we here admire, but cannot comprehend. We know not well what we say when we speak of them: yet is there in true believers a foresight and foretaste of this glorious condition. There enters sometimes, by the Word and Spirit, into their hearts such a sense of the uncreated glory of God, shining forth in Christ, as affects and satiates their souls with ineffable joy. Hence ariseth that “peace of God which passeth all understanding,” keeping “our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ,” Phil. iv. 7. “Christ,” in believers, “the hope of glory,” gives them to taste of the first-fruits of it; yea, sometimes to bathe their souls in the fountain of life, and to drink of the rivers of pleasure that are at his right hand.

1902 · Alexander Maclaren, The Expositor's Bible: Colossians 8

To have Him is to have a hope certain as memory and careless of death or change. That hope is offered to us all. If by our faith in His great sacrifice we grasp the great truth of “Christ for us,” our fears will be scattered, sin and guilt taken away, death abolished, condemnation ended, the future a hope and not a dread. If by communion with Him through faith, love, and obedience, we have “Christ in us,” our purity will grow, and our experience will be such as plainly to demand eternity to complete its incompleteness and to bring its folded buds to flower and fruit. If Christ be in us, His life guarantees ours, and we cannot die whilst He lives.