Colossians 1:26 (KJV)

Passage

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Nearby Context

Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

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:

Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "even", "mystery", "hath", "been", "ages", "generations", "manifest", and "saints". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "even" and "mystery", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 25's "Whereof I am made a minister according..." into verse 27's "To whom God would make known what...", so "even" and "mystery" belong inside that flow. In Colossians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "even" and "mystery" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.