Matthew Poole and continuators on Colossians 1:27

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles , which is Christ in you the hope of glory .

He refers the manifestation, purely to God's good will and pleasure, (as Christ himself doth, Mat. 11.26, 27. Luk. 10.21.) so in the like case, Rom. 9.18. that having mentioned Saints none might conceit it was for foreseen faith, but the Colossians might value their privilege, reverently receive that grace which was not given to all: in short to restrain curiosity why God would not do it otherwise or sooner he cuts the knots of all questions, onely by signifying his sovereign pleasure, he would make it known to them elsewhere, Eph. 1.9. This mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, Eph. 1.9. which was not to be touched till he thought meet to make it known.

Some refer the glory to mystery as glorious mystery because it lets forth divine glory and promiseth it to believers, Luk. 2.14. others, and the most, rather to riches and that either as its Epithet (v. 11.) the glorious riches of this mystery, or noting the sub[illegible: 1 letter]ect for Salvation of the Church amongst the Gentiles, Eph. 1.18. & 3.7, 8. its usual with the Apostle to use the word riches to set forth abundance, Rom. 2.4. & 11.33. Eph. 1.7. here for the praise of the Gospel he would signifie a very great and most abundant glory far surpassing any former ministration, 2 Cor. 3.8, 18. In the law those riches, (Eph. 2.7.) were not onely imperfectly and obscurely discovered but scatteredly with broken beams, as the sun in water when the water is disturbed; one attribute [illegible: 1 letter]hining out in one work, another in another, but now the harmony of the divine attributes in mans redemption shines out most fully, clearly and gloriously contracted in Christ who is the object and revealer of the mystery by his Spirit, the glory whereof breaks forth with much more splendour amongst the Gentiles, Rom. 15.7, 8, 9. 1 Cor. 2.10. 2 Cor. 3.9, 18. all glory before was but a shadow to this, c. 2.17. 2 Cor. 3.18. Gal. 3.1. Heb. 10.1.

Which is Christ, amongst, for, or in them, i. e. who not onely was preached amongst them, but whom they possessed, and who dwelt in them by faith, Eph. 3.17. the Revelation being accompanied with the power of the spirit in the translating them by his glorious power from the Kingdom of darkness into his Kingdom, v. 13. Luk. 17.21. Gal. 2.20. & 4.19. Eph. 3.5, 7.

So is not onely the object, 1. Tim. 1.1. but the ground of their expectation of glory, he in whom the mystery begins, and ends, 1 Tim. 3.16. out of whom all are hopeless of being happy, Eph. 2.12. and in whom all have strong consolation, Heb. 6.18.

Marginal references: 2 Cor. 2.14.; Rom. 9.23.; Or, amongst you.