Perhaps you noticed Paul’s term for his message in the previous quote: mystery . In the writings attributed to him, Paul uses mystery as shorthand for his message fifteen times, including this instance in Colossians 1:27: “God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery , which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (ESV; emphasis added). Like Jesus, then, Paul has a secret message—a message that is both concealed and revealed. It is a message of reconciliation and unification, just as a kingdom brings people together under one king. It is, I
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