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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Colossians 1:26 the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/colossians/1-26.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/51_Col_01_26.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Colossians 1:26 - Paul's Suffering for the Church" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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but has now been manifested to His saints, <a href="/lsb/colossians/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, <a href="/amp/colossians/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a> that is, the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people). <a href="/csb/colossians/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. <a href="/hcsb/colossians/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. <a href="/asv/colossians/1.htm">American Standard Version</a> even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, <a href="/cev/colossians/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> For ages and ages this message was kept secret from everyone, but now it has been explained to God's people. <a href="/erv/colossians/1.htm">English Revised Version</a> even the mystery which hath been hid from all ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, <a href="/gwt/colossians/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> In the past God hid this mystery, but now he has revealed it to his people. <a href="/gnt/colossians/1.htm">Good News Translation</a> which is the secret he hid through all past ages from all human beings but has now revealed to his people. <a href="/isv/colossians/1.htm">International Standard Version</a> This secret was hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints, <a href="/msb/colossians/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. <a href="/net/colossians/1.htm">NET Bible</a> that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints. <a href="/nheb/colossians/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints, <a href="/wbt/colossians/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages, and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: <a href="/wey/colossians/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> the truth which has been kept secret from all ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His people, <a href="/web/colossians/1.htm">World English Bible</a> the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints, <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/colossians/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> the secret that has been hid from the ages and from the generations, but now was revealed to His holy ones, <a href="/blb/colossians/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> the mystery having been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but now having been manifested to His saints, <a href="/ylt/colossians/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> the secret that hath been hid from the ages and from the generations, but now was manifested to his saints, <a href="/slt/colossians/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> The mystery hid from times immemorial, and from generations, and now has been manifested to his holy ones:<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/colossians/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> The mystery which hath been hidden from ages and generations, but now is manifested to his saints, <a href="/cpdv/colossians/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> the mystery which had remained hidden to past ages and generations, but which now is manifested to his saints. <a href="/nabre/colossians/1.htm">New American Bible</a> the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, <a href="/nrsvce/colossians/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/colossians/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Even the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now is revealed to his saints: <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/colossians/1.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> That mystery which was hidden from the world and from generations but now has been revealed to his Holy Ones,<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/colossians/1.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> the mystery which was concealed from the ages and the generations, but is now made manifest to his saints, <a href="/godbey/colossians/1.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from the generations: but is now made manifest to his saints, <a href="/haweis/colossians/1.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> the mystery which was hid from ages and from generations, but is now unveiled to his saints; <a href="/mace/colossians/1.htm">Mace New Testament</a> that mystery, which has been hid from ages and generations, but is now made manifest to his saints: <a href="/wey/colossians/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> the truth which has been kept secret from all ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His people, <a href="/worrell/colossians/1.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but was now made manifest to His saints; <a href="/worsley/colossians/1.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> even that mystery which was hid from former ages and generations, but is now manifested to his saints: <a href="/parallel/colossians/1-26.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7q-K-qsfihQ?start=239" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/colossians/1.htm">Paul's Suffering for the Church</a> …25I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God, 26<a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-ANS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3466.htm" title="3466: mystērion (N-ANS) -- From a derivative of muo; a secret or mystery.">mystery</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-ANS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">that</a> <a href="/greek/613.htm" title="613: apokekrymmenon (V-RPM/P-ANS) -- To hide away, conceal, keep secret. From apo and krupto; to conceal away; figuratively, to keep secret.">was hidden</a> <a href="/greek/575.htm" title="575: apo (Prep) -- From, away from. A primary particle; off, i.e. Away, in various senses.">for</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/165.htm" title="165: aiōnōn (N-GMP) -- From the same as aei; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity; by implication, the world; specially a Messianic period.">ages</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/575.htm" title="575: apo (Prep) -- From, away from. A primary particle; off, i.e. Away, in various senses."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GFP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1074.htm" title="1074: geneōn (N-GFP) -- From genos; a generation; by implication, an age.">generations</a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">but</a> <a href="/greek/3568.htm" title="3568: nyn (Adv) -- A primary particle of present time; now; also as noun or adjective present or immediate."></a> <a href="/greek/5319.htm" title="5319: ephanerōthē (V-AIP-3S) -- To make clear (visible, manifest), make known. From phaneros; to render apparent.">is now revealed</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tois (Art-DMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">to</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">His</a> <a href="/greek/40.htm" title="40: hagiois (Adj-DMP) -- Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.">saints.</a> 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/ephesians/3-4.htm">Ephesians 3:4-6</a> In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, / which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. / This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. <a href="/romans/16-25.htm">Romans 16:25-26</a> Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past / but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith— <a href="/1_corinthians/2-7.htm">1 Corinthians 2:7-10</a> No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began. / None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. / Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” ... <a href="/ephesians/1-9.htm">Ephesians 1:9-10</a> And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ / as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ. <a href="/1_peter/1-10.htm">1 Peter 1:10-12</a> Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully, / trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. / It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. <a href="/2_corinthians/4-3.htm">2 Corinthians 4:3-4</a> And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. / The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. <a href="/ephesians/3-9.htm">Ephesians 3:9</a> and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. <a href="/matthew/13-11.htm">Matthew 13:11</a> He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. <a href="/romans/11-25.htm">Romans 11:25</a> I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. <a href="/1_timothy/3-16.htm">1 Timothy 3:16</a> By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory. <a href="/daniel/2-28.htm">Daniel 2:28-30</a> But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these: / As you lay on your bed, O king, your thoughts turned to the future, and the Revealer of Mysteries made known to you what will happen. / And to me this mystery has been revealed, not because I have more wisdom than any man alive, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind. <a href="/isaiah/6-9.htm">Isaiah 6:9-10</a> And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” <a href="/amos/3-7.htm">Amos 3:7</a> Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. <a href="/deuteronomy/29-29.htm">Deuteronomy 29:29</a> The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law. <a href="/isaiah/48-6.htm">Isaiah 48:6</a> You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not acknowledge them? From now on I will tell you of new things, hidden things unknown to you.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div> Even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:the mystery.<a href="/romans/16-25.htm">Romans 16:25,26</a> Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, … <a href="/1_corinthians/2-7.htm">1 Corinthians 2:7</a> But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:<a href="/ephesians/3-3.htm">Ephesians 3:3-10</a> How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, … now.<a href="/psalms/25-14.htm">Psalm 25:14</a> The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.<a href="/matthew/13-11.htm">Matthew 13:11</a> He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.<a href="/mark/4-11.htm">Mark 4:11</a> And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/philippians/4-20.htm">Ages</a> <a href="/colossians/1-9.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/14-25.htm">Disclosed</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-21.htm">Generations</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-9.htm">Hid</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-9.htm">Hidden</a> <a href="/philippians/3-6.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/philippians/1-13.htm">Manifest</a> <a href="/colossians/1-8.htm">Manifested</a> <a href="/ephesians/6-19.htm">Mystery</a> <a href="/colossians/1-21.htm">Past</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-13.htm">Revealed</a> <a href="/colossians/1-12.htm">Saints</a> <a href="/philippians/4-12.htm">Secret</a> <a href="/colossians/1-21.htm">Times</a> <a href="/colossians/1-6.htm">Truth</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_timothy/1-16.htm">Ages</a> <a href="/colossians/4-4.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-8.htm">Disclosed</a> <a href="/1_timothy/1-4.htm">Generations</a> <a href="/colossians/2-3.htm">Hid</a> <a href="/colossians/2-3.htm">Hidden</a> <a href="/colossians/2-19.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/colossians/4-4.htm">Manifest</a> <a href="/colossians/3-4.htm">Manifested</a> <a href="/colossians/1-27.htm">Mystery</a> <a href="/colossians/3-7.htm">Past</a> <a href="/colossians/3-4.htm">Revealed</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/3-13.htm">Saints</a> <a href="/colossians/2-3.htm">Secret</a> <a href="/colossians/2-7.htm">Times</a> <a href="/colossians/1-27.htm">Truth</a><div class="vheading2">Colossians 1</div>1. <a href="/colossians/1-1.htm">After salutation Paul thanks God for the Colossians' faith;</a> 7. <a href="/colossians/1-7.htm">confirms the doctrine of Epaphras;</a> 9. <a href="/colossians/1-9.htm">prays further for their increase in grace;</a> 14. <a href="/colossians/1-14.htm">describes the supremacy of Christ;</a> 21. <a href="/colossians/1-21.htm">encourages them to receive Jesus Christ, and commends his own ministry.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/colossians/1.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/colossians/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/colossians/1.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>the mystery In biblical terms, a "mystery" refers to a divine truth that was previously hidden but is now revealed by God. This concept is prevalent in the New Testament, particularly in Paul's writings. The mystery here pertains to God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ, which was not fully understood in previous ages.that was hidden The idea of something being hidden suggests that it was not accessible or fully understood by previous generations. This aligns with the Old Testament prophecies that hinted at a coming Messiah but did not provide a complete picture. The hidden nature of this mystery underscores God's sovereign timing in revealing His plan.for ages and generations This phrase emphasizes the long period during which the mystery remained concealed. It spans the entire history of humanity up to the coming of Christ. Throughout the Old Testament, there were glimpses and shadows of God's plan, but the full revelation was reserved for the New Testament era.but is now revealed The turning point in history is marked by the coming of Jesus Christ, through whom the mystery is unveiled. This revelation is a key theme in the New Testament, highlighting the fulfillment of God's promises and the inauguration of a new covenant. The "now" indicates the present reality of this revelation in the lives of believers.to His saints The term "saints" refers to all believers who are set apart for God. In the New Testament, this includes both Jewish and Gentile Christians, reflecting the inclusive nature of the gospel. The revelation of the mystery to the saints signifies their role in God's redemptive plan and their understanding of the gospel's full implications.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/p/paul.htm">Paul</a> - The apostle who wrote the letter to the Colossians, addressing the church in Colossae. 2. <a href="/topical/c/colossae.htm">Colossae</a> - An ancient city in Asia Minor, where the church to whom Paul was writing was located. 3. <a href="/topical/s/saints.htm">Saints</a> - Refers to the believers in Christ, both in Colossae and universally, who are recipients of the revealed mystery. 4. <a href="/topical/m/mystery.htm">Mystery</a> - A divine truth that was previously hidden but has now been revealed through Christ. 5. <a href="/topical/a/ages_and_generations.htm">Ages and Generations</a> - Refers to the long period during which the mystery was hidden from humanity.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_the_mystery.htm">Understanding the Mystery</a> The "mystery" refers to God's redemptive plan through Christ, which was hidden but is now revealed to believers. This emphasizes the privilege and responsibility of understanding and sharing this truth. <a href="/topical/r/revelation_to_the_saints.htm">Revelation to the Saints</a> The revelation of the mystery to the saints highlights the intimate relationship between God and His people. Believers are called to live in the light of this revelation, growing in knowledge and faith. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereign_timing.htm">God's Sovereign Timing</a> The mystery was hidden for ages, demonstrating God's sovereign timing in revealing His plan. Trust in God's timing is crucial for believers as they navigate their spiritual journey. <a href="/topical/u/unity_in_christ.htm">Unity in Christ</a> The revealed mystery unites all believers in Christ, breaking down barriers of ethnicity, culture, and background. This unity should be reflected in the church's mission and community life. <a href="/topical/l/living_as_stewards_of_the_mystery.htm">Living as Stewards of the Mystery</a> As recipients of the revealed mystery, believers are stewards of this truth, called to share the gospel and live lives that reflect the transformative power of Christ.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_colossians_1.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Colossians 1</a> <a href="/q/is_christ_in_you_the_hope_of_glory.htm">Is Christ in you the hope of glory?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_mystery_of_godliness.htm">What constitutes the mystery of godliness?</a> <a href="/q/what_constitutes_the_mystery_of_faith.htm">What constitutes the mystery of faith?</a> <a href="/q/what's_the_holy_trinity_mystery.htm">What is the mystery of the Holy Trinity?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/colossians/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(26) The mystery.--On the Scriptural sense of the word "mystery," and its relation to the modern use of the word, see Note on <a href="/ephesians/1-9.htm" title="Having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself:">Ephesians 1:9</a>. In this passage, perhaps, most of all, it is defined with perfect clearness, as "a secret long hidden, and now revealed."<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/colossians/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 26. - The mystery which hath been hidden away from the ages and from the generations (<a href="/ephesians/2-2.htm">Ephesians 2:2, 3</a>; <a href="/ephesians/3-5.htm">Ephesians 3:5, 9</a>; <a href="/romans/16-25.htm">Romans 16:25, 26</a>; <a href="/romans/11-25.htm">Romans 11:25, 26, 33</a>). The word "mystery" plays a large part in Colossians and Ephesians. It occurs in 1 Corinthians, and twice in the Roman Epistle, written from Corinth. Its use in <a href="/romans/16-25.htm">Romans 16:25</a> is identical with that of the passage before us. The Greek mysteries were secret religious doctrines and rites made known only to initiated persons, who formed associations statedly assembling at certain sacred spots, of which Eleusis near Athens was the most famous. These systems exercised a vast influence over the Greek mind, and Greek literature is full of allusions to them; but their secret has been well kept, and little is known of their real character. Some of these mystic systems, probably, inculcated doctrines of a purer and more spiritual type than those of the vulgar polytheism. The ascetic and mystical doctrines ascribed to Pythagoras were propagated by secret societies. The language and ideas connected with the mysteries were readily adopted by the Jewish Broad Church of Alexandria, whose endeavour it was to expand Judaism by a symbolical and allegorizing method into a philosophic and universal religious system, and who were compelled to veil their inner doctrine from the eyes of their stricter, unenlightened (or unsophisticated) fellowbelievers. Μυστήριον appears in the Apocrypha as an epithet of the Divine Wisdom (Wisd. 2:22 Wisd. 8:4; etc.): <a href="/psalms/49-4.htm">Psalm 49:4</a>; <a href="/psalms/78-2.htm">Psalm 78:2</a> (comp. <a href="/matthew/13-34.htm">Matthew 13:34, 35</a>) furnished the Old Testament basis of this usage. (See Philo, 'On the Cherubim,' § 12; 'On Fugitives,' § 16; etc., for the place of mystery in the Alexandrine theology.) St. Paul, writing to men accustomed, either as Greeks or as Hellenistic Jews, to this phraseology, calls the gospel "a mystery," as that which is "hidden from the natural understanding and from the previous searchings of men" (<a href="/1_corinthians/2-6.htm">1 Corinthians 2:6-16</a>). But in the words that follow he repudiates the notion of any secrecy or exclusiveness in its proclamation (comp. <a href="/2_corinthians/3-12.htm">2 Corinthians 3:12-4:6</a>); in his language, "mystery is the correlate of revelation." The thrice-repeated ἀπὸ ("from," "away"), with the double indication of time, "gives a solemn emphasis" (Meyer) to the statement. Ages are successive epochs of time, with their states and conditions (comp. <a href="/galatians/1-4.htm">Galatians 1:4</a>); generations are successive races of men, with their traditions and hereditary tendencies. But now it was made manifest to his saints (<a href="/colossians/2-2.htm">Colossians 2:2</a>; <a href="/colossians/4-3.htm">Colossians 4:3</a>; <a href="/ephesians/1-9.htm">Ephesians 1:9</a>; <a href="/ephesians/3-5.htm">Ephesians 3:5</a>; <a href="/ephesians/6-19.htm">Ephesians 6:19</a>; <a href="/1_timothy/3-16.htm">1 Timothy 3:16</a>; <a href="/1_peter/1-20.htm">1 Peter 1:20</a>). The word "reveal" (<a href="/ephesians/3-5.htm">Ephesians 3:5</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/2-10.htm">1 Corinthians 2:10</a>) indicates a process, "make manifest" points to the result of this Divine act (<a href="/romans/16-25.htm">Romans 16:25, 26</a>: comp. <a href="/romans/1-17.htm">Romans 1:17</a> with Romans 3:21; see Trench's 'Synonyms'). The transition from the participle in the last clause to the strongly assertive finite verb in this almost disappears in English idiom: comp. vers. 5, 6; <a href="/ephesians/1-20.htm">Ephesians 1:20-22</a> (Greek); and see Winer's 'N.T. Grammar,' p. 717, or A. Buttmann, p. 382. There is also a change of tense: the manifestation is a single, sudden event (aorist), breaking through the long and seemingly final concealment of all previous time (present perfect participle); similarly in <a href="/romans/16-25.htm">Romans 16:25, 26</a> and <a href="/1_peter/1-20.htm">1 Peter 1:20</a> (comp. <a href="/colossians/2-14.htm">Colossians 2:14</a>, note). To his sailors; i.e. to the Church at large (ver. 2; <a href="/colossians/3-12.htm">Colossians 3:12</a>); but this implies a spiritual qualification (<a href="/1_corinthians/2-14.htm">1 Corinthians 2:14</a>). "His saints" are the recipients; "his holy apostles and prophets, in the Spirit," the organs (<a href="/ephesians/3-5.htm">Ephesians 3:5</a>) of this manifestation. The Church had long ago formally accepted this revelation (<a href="/acts/11-18.htm">Acts 11:18</a>); it was St. Paul's office to make it practically effectual. <a href="/commentaries/colossians/1-26.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>the τὸ (to) Article - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. mystery μυστήριον (mystērion) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3466.htm">Strong's 3466: </a> From a derivative of muo; a secret or 'mystery'. that τὸ (to) Article - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. was hidden ἀποκεκρυμμένον (apokekrymmenon) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_613.htm">Strong's 613: </a> To hide away, conceal, keep secret. From apo and krupto; to conceal away; figuratively, to keep secret. for ἀπὸ (apo) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_575.htm">Strong's 575: </a> From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses. ages αἰώνων (aiōnōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_165.htm">Strong's 165: </a> From the same as aei; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity; by implication, the world; specially a Messianic period. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. generations γενεῶν (geneōn) Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1074.htm">Strong's 1074: </a> From genos; a generation; by implication, an age. but δὲ (de) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> A primary particle; but, and, etc. is now revealed ἐφανερώθη (ephanerōthē) Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5319.htm">Strong's 5319: </a> To make clear (visible, manifest), make known. From phaneros; to render apparent. to τοῖς (tois) Article - Dative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. His αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. saints, ἁγίοις (hagiois) Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_40.htm">Strong's 40: </a> Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/colossians/1-26.htm">Colossians 1:26 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/colossians/1-26.htm">Colossians 1:26 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/colossians/1-26.htm">Colossians 1:26 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/colossians/1-26.htm">Colossians 1:26 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/colossians/1-26.htm">Colossians 1:26 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/colossians/1-26.htm">Colossians 1:26 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/colossians/1-26.htm">Colossians 1:26 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/colossians/1-26.htm">Colossians 1:26 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/colossians/1-26.htm">Colossians 1:26 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/colossians/1-26.htm">Colossians 1:26 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/colossians/1-26.htm">NT Letters: Colossians 1:26 The mystery which has been hidden (Coloss. 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