John Calvin Commentary Colossians 1:27

"to whom God was pleased to 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 1:27 (ASV)

To whom God was pleased to make known. Here he puts a bridle on the presumption of men, so that they may not allow themselves to be wise, or to inquire beyond what they ought, but may learn to be satisfied with this one thing: that it has so pleased God. For the good pleasure of God ought to be perfectly sufficient for us as a reason. This, however, is said principally to commend the grace of God. For Paul intimates that mankind by no means provided an occasion for God to make them participants in this secret, when he teaches that God was led to this of his own accord, and because he was pleased to do so. For it is customary for Paul to place the good pleasure of God in opposition to all human merits and external causes.

What are the riches. We must always take notice of the magnificent terms he uses in extolling the dignity of the gospel. For he was well aware that human ingratitude is so great that, although this treasure is inestimable and the grace of God in it is so distinguished, they nevertheless carelessly despise it, or at least think lightly of it. Hence, not being satisfied with the term mystery, he adds glory, and that glory, too, is not trivial or common. For riches, according to Paul, denote, as is well known, abundance. He states particularly that those riches have been manifested among the Gentiles. For what is more wonderful than that the Gentiles, who for so many ages had been sunk in death, appearing to be utterly ruined, are suddenly reckoned among the sons of God and receive the inheritance of salvation?

Which is Christ in you. What he had said concerning the Gentiles generally he applies to the Colossians themselves, so that they may more effectively recognize in themselves the grace of God and may embrace it with greater reverence. He says, therefore, which is Christ, meaning by this that all that secret is contained in Christ, and that all the riches of heavenly wisdom are obtained by them when they have Christ, as we will find him stating more openly a little later. He adds, in you, because they now possess Christ, from whom they were recently so utterly estranged. Lastly, he calls Christ the hope of glory, so that they may know that they lack nothing for complete blessedness when they have obtained Christ. This, however, is a wonderful work of God, that in earthen and frail vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7) the hope of heavenly glory resides.