A

Eph. 3:9.

in God.

B

Col. 1:26,27.

Mystery hid Christ in

B

Col. 2:2,3.

Christ in

Whom hid

A

Col. 3:3.

in God.

It will be seen that the words which relate to the hope of the church

of the Mystery are in line with the peculiar nature of the dispensation with

which this hope closes.  We shall see how this contrasts with the hope that

is entertained by other callings presently.  Our second consideration,

however, is what is intended by the words `Christ Who Is our life'.  Our life

is hid `with Christ in God', that is one aspect of truth and a very

comforting aspect it is too.  Yet however great the assurance implied in the

words `with Christ' or `in God', the next statement is even fuller and

deeper.  Christ Himself Is our life (Col. 3:4).  The enmity occasioned by the

differences that existed in the Church during the Acts of the apostles and so

clearly indicated in the decrees of Acts 15 was completely removed at the

coming in of the dispensation of the Mystery.  This enmity was likened to the

middle wall of partition that excluded the Gentile from the inner Temple, but

being broken down, those both far off and nigh became one new man, so making

peace.  In this new unity Christ is our peace (Eph. 2:14).

The very fact that the riches of the glory of the Mystery could now be

proclaimed among the Gentiles, was another indication that a dispensational

change had come, the barrier removed, and the outstanding warrant for such is

once again Christ, among you, the hope of the glory (Col. 1:27), even though

Israel were dismissed, temporarily.  In addition, 1 Timothy 1:1 declares that

Christ is our hope.  Full participation, full assurance and full

comprehension of the will of God for any dispensation may be beyond the

attainment of the holiest here below, but most certainly in connection with

the innermost shrine of revelation, it is Christ Himself once more Who

occupies the centre.

If He is our life, it necessarily follows, that while He awaits the day

of manifestation, we cannot expect to be in full possession of life; the

realization of our hope must coincide with His appearing.  It is time,

therefore, to turn to the third aspect of this truth, namely `the appearing

with Him in glory'.

The English words `appear' and `make manifest' are used in the A.V. as

synonyms, and there are doubtless good reasons for the choice of first one

and then the other word that we meet in the New Testament.  It will, however,

simplify our present study if we decide to use one or the other in this

article, even though the decision may be exceedingly difficult for us to

make, and should not be extended beyond our present quest.  First let us note

the different words that are translated `appear' and `manifest'.

Appear: phainomai, and the derivatives, anaphainomai, emphanizo, epiphaino,

phaneros and phaneroo.  These all partake of the primitive meaning of

`shining by means of light', leading us via the word phao to phos the

ordinary word for `light'.  Other words used in the New Testament and

translated `appear' are erchomai `come', and optomai `to be seen'.

Manifest: phaneroo, phaino, emphanizo, emphanes, aphanes and phanerosis,

delos and ekdelos in the sense of being `evident', prodelos in the sense of

being evident beforehand.