The mystery Paul reveals in Colossians is that Christ is in you among the Gentiles — the hope of glory.
In Colossians 1:26-27 Paul says this secret was hid from ages and generations but is now made manifest to God's saints. Les Feldick identifies it as Christ dwelling in a Gentile, something a Jew could never comprehend.
Colossians 1:26-27 — This passage directly tells what the mystery is: 'Christ in you, the hope of glory' revealed to the Gentiles.
Ephesians 3:6 — Paul explains that the mystery includes Gentiles being fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of God's promise in Christ.
Paul calls the truth he reveals in Colossians a "mystery" or "secret." In Colossians 1:26-27 he says: "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." The mystery is not just a general truth — it is specifically about Christ being in Gentile believers. Paul connects this same mystery to the Gentiles in Ephesians 3:6: "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." This was a complete revelation hidden in past ages but now unveiled. In Colossians 2:2 Paul also refers to "the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ." The Bible itself says this mystery had been hidden. Paul writes in Ephesians 3:5 (as quoted in the teaching) that it "was not made known unto the sons of men" in other generations, but is now "revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets" by the Spirit. First Corinthians 2:7 echoes the same idea: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory." All of these verses point to the same revealed secret: Christ in you, especially among the Gentiles.
Les teaches that Colossians 1:26-27 is one of Paul's clearest statements of the mystery. He notes that the mystery was "hid from ages and generations, but now is made manifest" and that this was something new, not found in the Old Testament or the four Gospels. He says: "What is the secret? That Christ is in a Gentile." Les emphasizes that a Jew could never comprehend Christ dwelling in a Gentile. Les connects this to Paul's other epistles, particularly Ephesians, where the mystery is that Gentiles are fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ — not through Judaism or the law, but through Christ's finished work. He points out that Paul was made a minister of this mystery by the gift of grace and that Paul himself received it by revelation. Les also stresses that this mystery was kept hidden by God until the right time and was now made known to the saints.
Paul says this mystery was "hid from ages and generations" (Colossians 1:26) and "from the beginning of the world has been hid in God" (Ephesians 3:9). Les points out that one of God's prerogatives is to hide things, and that He kept this secret until the proper time. This is why the Colossians mystery could not be found in earlier revelation.
The mystery includes that "the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" (Ephesians 3:6). Les explains that this had never been heard of before — God had been dealing with Israel, and now He is dealing with Gentiles in a whole new way. Israel had no concept of Gentiles becoming one with the God of Abraham, but that is exactly what this mystery reveals.
The riches of the glory of this mystery are "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Les says plainly, "What is the secret? That Christ is in a Gentile." He notes this is something a Jew could never comprehend. The mystery is not merely a doctrine — it is the reality that resurrected Christ dwells inside believing Gentiles.
Paul says he was made a minister of this mystery according to the gift of God's grace (Ephesians 3:7). In Colossians 1:25 he says he was made a minister "according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God." Les emphasizes that Paul received this mystery by revelation and was entrusted to share it with the Gentiles.
Gentiles as Fellow Heirs
Les reads Ephesians 3:6 to show the mystery includes Gentiles being fellow heirs and of the same body with Israel, not by the law but by Christ's finished work.
Colossians 1:27 — Riches Among Gentiles
Les explains that Colossians 1:27 speaks of the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles — something never heard of in Israel's history.
Mystery Not Made Known in Other Ages
Les shows from Ephesians 3 that this mystery was not made known to sons of men in other ages, but is now revealed to holy apostles and prophets, including the Gentile inclusion.
Mystery Hid in God
Les points out that the mystery was hid in God from the beginning of the world, emphasizing God's sovereign choice to conceal it until now.
Colossians 1:26-27 — Plain Language
Les reads Colossians 1:26-27 and insists the secret has been hid from ages and generations but is now made manifest; he calls it plain language.
Christ Is in a Gentile
Les gives the direct answer: the secret is that Christ is in a Gentile, and a Jew could never comprehend that.
Hidden Wisdom in 1 Corinthians
Les connects the same mystery language to 1 Corinthians 2:7, showing Paul consistently refers to the secret wisdom hidden from the princes of this world.
Paul Received the Mystery by Revelation
Les explains that Paul received this mystery by revelation and that in other ages it was not made known to the sons of men.
Colossians 1:26: Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
This verse states that the mystery had been hidden throughout past ages and is now revealed to believers.
Colossians 1:27: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
This is the clearest definition of the mystery in Colossians: Christ dwelling in Gentile believers.
Ephesians 3:6: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Paul explains that the mystery includes the full inclusion of Gentiles into the body of Christ.
Colossians 2:2: That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Paul prays that believers would acknowledge the mystery of God, which is centered in Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:7: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Paul uses the same mystery language for the secret that God ordained before the world, hidden from the princes of this age.
The mystery is 'Christ in you, the hope of glory' — the truth that Christ would dwell in Gentiles. Paul says this secret had been hidden from ages and generations but was now made manifest to God's saints.
Because Paul himself calls it a mystery or secret (Colossians 1:26). Les explains that God had hidden it from the beginning of the world and had not made it known in other ages; it was revealed for the first time through Paul.
Yes. Ephesians 3:6 says the mystery includes that Gentiles would be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ — not through Judaism or the law, but through Christ's finished work.
No. The mystery had been hid from ages and generations. Les says you won't find statements like this in the Old Testament or the four Gospels; it appears only in Paul's epistles.
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