Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Colossians 3:4

"When Christ, [who is] our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory." — Colossians 3:4 (ASV)

Another motivation to seeking and setting the mind on the things above is the prospect of the believer’s future manifestation with Christ in glory. Christ is called our “life” because he is, quite literally, the essence of our lives. It is he who gives us life and nurtures it by his own continuing presence (cf. Romans 8:10).

“Appears” (GK 5746), one of several terms that refer to the return of Christ, emphasizes the open display of Christ at his coming. When Christ is thus manifested, believers also “will appear with him in glory.” Then the world that persecutes believers will be blinded with the dazzling glory of his return.