Colossians 3:4 - Exposition

When Christ shall be manifested, our (or, your, ) life, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory ( Romans 8:18-23 ; Philippians 3:21 ; 1 Corinthians 1:7 ; 1 Corinthians 4:5 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:10 ; 1 Timothy 6:15 ; 2 Timothy 2:10-12 ; 2 Timothy 4:8 ; Titus 2:13 ; 1 John 3:2 ; 1 John 2:28 ). Our future destiny, with our present redemption ( Colossians 1:14 ), is wrapped up in Christ. Our life is not only "with him" ( Colossians 3:3 ); it is "himself" ( Philippians 1:21 ; John 1:4 ; John 6:50-57 ; John 14:6 ; 1 John 5:12 ); he is its source and ground, way and rule, means and end—its all ( Colossians 3:11 : comp. Colossians 1:20 ; Colossians 2:6-10 ; Ephesians 1:3 , Ephesians 1:23 ; Ephesians 3:17-19 ; Ephesians 4:13 ; Philippians 3:10 ; Philippians 4:19 , etc.). From the hour of his ascension he has been hidden ( Acts 1:9 ; Acts 3:21 ; 1 Peter 1:8 ); and his manifestation is as much a part of the Christian creed as his death and resurrection ( Acts 17:31 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:10 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:16 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:10 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:8 ; 1 Corinthians 15:23 ; Philippians 3:20 ; 2 Timothy 4:1 ; John 14:3 ; 1 John 3:2 , 1 John 3:3 ; Revelation 22:12 , Revelation 22:20 ). Then the Christian will have his manifestation also with him, in the "revelation of the sons of God" ( Romans 8:19 ); who will receive their second "adoption, to wit, the redemption of their body" ( Romans 8:23 ). "Seeing him as he is" in his glory, "we shall be like him" ( 1 John 3:2 ) in glory. At last the spiritual life of the soul will have its due organic expression, in a body perfect and heavenly as itself ( 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 ; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 ). This is already the case with our human nature in Christ ( Philippians 3:21 ); and the change will proceed from the Head to the members ( 1 Corinthians 15:23 ), who will be conformed to his "body of glory," as now they are being conformed to his spiritual image ( Romans 8:9-11 , Romans 8:29 , Romans 8:30 ; Romans 12:2 ; 2 Corinthians 3:18 ; John 17:22-26 ; 1 John 4:17 ). The textual change from "your" to "our" is doubtful (see note on Colossians 2:13 ). Observe that "Christ" is repeated four times in the last four verses.