Last week, we heard Paul talking about his calling from God “to make the Word of God fully known.” He was called to be a “minister," a servant of God, a “steward” or manager from God for the sake of the church, the saints of God. (We get the English word “economy” from the Greek word for stewardship.) Paul was to be a manager of God’s strategic plan for getting the Word of Christ out to people, even though it meant suffering and trouble for him (Paul) to be on the front line of that work (Colossian...
Last week, we heard Paul talking about his calling from God “to make the Word of God fully known.” He was called to be a “minister," a servant of God, a “steward” or manager from God for the sake of the church, the saints of God. (We get the English word “economy” from the Greek word for stewardship.) Paul was to be a manager of God’s strategic plan for getting the Word of Christ out to people, even though it meant suffering and trouble for him (Paul) to be on the front line of that work (Colossians 1:24-25).
Paul’s job was to reveal, to uncover, for His saints “the mystery hidden for ages and generations” in the past. It was in the Old Testament, but not fully clear even to the OT prophets or the angels who served God. See Ephesians 3:8-11 and 1 Peter 1:10-12 and 1 Corinthians 4:9, for example. God’s full plan was a mystery to be revealed only by God, at the right time. (See the first use of the word “mystery” in Daniel 2:27-28, as Daniel tells the meaning of the mystery of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, which only God could reveal.)
The word “mystery," hidden but now revealed or uncovered, is used often by Paul. “God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles (all those not Jews) are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. "Him we proclaim," says Paul. Everything centers in Jesus and what He has done for us and how He now lives with and in us, as our Lord and Savior.
This was a mystery to Jews who thought they alone were God’s chosen people and that people had to become Jews in order to have hope. (See John 8:31ff and Romans 10:1-4, for example.) This was a mystery to the “mystery religions” of the Ancient Greek and Roman worlds, who thought they had secrets and powers that could only be revealed to a select, elite group. This was a mystery to ancient philosophers, who had very complicated, hard to understand ideas, but were always looking for some new ideas to tickle their ears. (See Acts 17:18-21.)
We simply proclaim Christ, Paul says, a mystery meant to be clearly revealed now to everyone, not just for certain select people or groups. It was actually “God’s open secret” in the Old Testament, says Martin Franzmann, beginning with the promise in Genesis 3:15 that Satan would be defeated and his head crushed by a descendant of Eve. This descendant would be from the line of Abraham, but “all families on earth would be blessed through Him” (Genesis 12:1-3), not just the Jews.
This Descendant was Jesus Christ, and Paul openly proclaims Him, as Good News for everyone (Colossians 1:28). Paul is “warning” everyone of the reality of sin and their need for a Savior. He is “instructing everyone” about what Jesus has done to rescue them, with all the wisdom of God’s Word. And the goal is to”present everyone mature in Christ." (The word “mature” could also be translated “complete” or “filled up” or “perfect” in Christ [Colossians 1:28].) And being “in Christ” means trusting in Christ by faith, as the miracle of God through His Word and Baptism, as we will hear more of later on in Colossians.
Three times Paul says this is Good News for everyone, in Christ. Literally, the message is for “every man” (meaning not every male, but every human being). This is the amazing Good News revealed. Jesus came to be the Savior of all. ”God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). People can resist and reject this Good News, but it is to be proclaimed to everyone.
Paul also concludes this chapter, knowing that as he ”toils” and ”struggles” (the Greek suggests hardships and agony) to share this Good New of Christ, it is really God Who is working within him, with His energy and power, to bring people to faith (Colossians 1:29). “To God alone be the glory,” Paul would say. The power is in God and His Word, at work in us and others (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
If you would like to read more about this mystery hidden, but now revealed for all in Christ, you could look at Romans 5:1-2, Romans 8:7-8, 10-11, Romans 9:23-27, Romans 16:25-27, 1 Corinthians 2:7-10, 12-14, Ephesians 3:1-6, 8-9, and 1 Peter 1:20-21, for example.
