Colossians 1:26 (DRB)

Passage

The mystery which hath been hidden from ages and generations, but now is manifested to his saints,

Nearby Context

Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church:

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

Colossians 1:26 The mystery which hath been hidden from ages and generations, but now is manifested to his saints,

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known 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, admonishing 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 "mystery", "hath", "been", "hidden", "ages", "generations", "manifested", and "saints". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "mystery" and "hath", 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 the...", so "mystery" and "hath" 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 "hath" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.