Colossians 1:26 (DBY)

Passage

the mystery which [has been] hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been made manifest to his saints;

Nearby Context

Colossians 1:24 Now, I rejoice in sufferings for you, and I fill up that which is behind of the tribulations of Christ in my flesh, for his body, which is the assembly;

Colossians 1:25 of which *I* became minister, according to the dispensation of God which [is] given me towards you to complete the word of God,

Colossians 1:26 the mystery which [has been] hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been made manifest to his saints;

Colossians 1:27 to whom God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you the hope of glory:

Colossians 1:28 whom *we* announce, admonishing every man, and teaching every man, in all wisdom, to the end that we may present every man perfect in Christ.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 25's "of which I became minister according to..." into verse 27's "to whom God would make known what...", so "mystery" and "been" 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 "mystery" and "been" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.