Colossians 1:25-27

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Colossians 1:12-29

Here is a summary of the doctrine of the gospel concerning the great work of our redemption by Christ. It comes in here not as the matter of a sermon, but as the matter of a thanksgiving; for our salvation by Christ furnishes us with abundant matter of thanksgiving in every view of it: Giving thanks unto the Father, Col. 1:12. He does not discourse of the work of redemption in the natural order of it; for then he would speak of the purchase of it first, and afterwards of the application of it.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Colossians 1:24-29

1:24-29 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and in my flesh, for the sake of his body, I fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ. By his body, I mean the Church, of which I was made a servant, according to the office which God gave me to exercise for your sakes. That office is to make the word of God fully known, that secret which has remained hidden throughout all the ages and the generations, but which has now been made manifest to God's dedicated people; for God desired to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:25

Whereof I am made a minister ,.... Not of Christ, or of the Gospel as before, though both were true; but of the churches for whose sake he endured afflictions; and which carries in it a reason of his suffering for them: he was not a saviour of the body, nor a redeemer of the church, nor Lord of it; but a minister, a servant of it, that ministered to it in holy things, in the word and ordinances; not a deacon, as the word, sometimes signifies, nor an ordinary minister, or a pastor of a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:26

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and generations ,.... This is said, as explanative of the word of God; signifying that he did not mean the Scriptures in general, which are the word of God, and every part of them; some part of which is historical, another prophetical, another practical, and another doctrinal; nor the law, which also is the word of God, but the Gospel, called "the mystery", as it often is; because it contains things, which, though revealed, are mysteries to a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:27

To whom God would make known ,.... The spring and cause of the manifestation of the Gospel to the saints, and chosen of God, is not their works, for God does not call them with an holy calling according to them, but according to his own grace; nor any preparations and dispositions in them before such manifestation, towards the Gospel and the truths of it, for there are none such naturally in men, but all the reverse; nor a foresight of their better improvement of it, when made known, for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 1:25

Whereof I am made a minister - Having received especial commission from God to preach salvation to the Gentiles. According to the dispensation - Κατα την οικονομιαν· According to the Gospel economy or institution; the scheme or plan of salvation by Christ crucified. To fulfill the word of God - The Greek πληρωσαι τον λογον του Θεου may be translated, fully to preach the doctrine of God. See Romans 15:19 , and the note there. Were we to take the word in its common meaning, it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 1:26

The mystery which hath been hid - The mystery is this: that God had designed to grant the Gentiles the same privileges with the Jews, and make them his people who were not his people. That this is what St. Paul means by the mystery, see Ephesians 3:3 , etc. Made manifest to his saints - It is fully known to all who have embraced the doctrine of Christ crucified; to all Christians. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 1:27

The riches of the glory - God manifests to these how abundantly glorious this Gospel is among the Gentiles; and how effectual is this doctrine of Christ crucified to the salvation of multitudes. Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory - In this and the following verse there are several remarkable particulars: - I. We find here the sum and substance of the apostle's preaching. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 1:25

Verse 25 25.Of which I am made a minister. Mark under what character he suffers for the Church — as being a minister, not to give the price of redemption, (as Augustine dexterously and piously expresses himself,) but to proclaim it. He calls himself, however, in this instance, a minister of the Church on a different ground from that on which he called himself elsewhere, (1 Corinthians 4:1,) a minister of God, and a little ago, (Colossians 1:23,) a minister of the gospel. For the Apostles serve... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Colossians 1:26

Verse 26 26.Hidden mystery. Here we have a commendation of the gospel — that it is a wonderful secret of God. It is not without good reason that Paul so frequently extols the gospel by bestowing upon it the highest commendations in his power; for he saw that it was a stumblingblock to the Jews, and foolishness to the Greeks. (1 Corinthians 1:23.) We see also at this day, in what hatred it is held by hypocrites, and how haughtily it is contemned by the world. Paul, accordingly, with the view... read more

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