Bible Commentary

Colossians 3:4

The Pulpit Commentary on Colossians 3:4

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

When Christ shall be manifested, our (or, your,) life, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ).

Our future destiny, with our present redemption (), is wrapped up in Christ. Our life is not only "with him" (); it is "himself" (; ; ; ; ); he is its source and ground, way and rule, means and end—its all ( : comp.

Then the Christian will have his manifestation also with him, in the "revelation of the sons of God" (); who will receive their second "adoption, to wit, the redemption of their body" ().

"Seeing him as he is" in his glory, "we shall be like him" () in glory. At last the spiritual life of the soul will have its due organic expression, in a body perfect and heavenly as itself (; ).

This is already the case with our human nature in Christ (); and the change will proceed from the Head to the members (), who will be conformed to his "body of glory," as now they are being conformed to his spiritual image (, , ; ; ; ; ).

The textual change from "your" to "our" is doubtful (see note on ). Observe that "Christ" is repeated four times in the last four verses.

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