I have become its [the church] servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.
Colossians 1:25-26 NIV
The opening words of this passage describe two relationships that Paul had. The first was with God. God had commissioned Paul. The word the NIV translates as “commission” has the idea of management or stewardship. As a steward, Paul was answerable to God for the execution of his assigned task.
The second relationship Paul had was with the church. His commission from God was to be a servant of the church. And the specific service he was to render to the church was to present the word of God in its fullness.
While we might use the term “present the word of God in its fullness” today, it had a different meaning for Paul. We use it to mean that we are preaching or teaching everything found in the Bible.
But for Paul, it meant the unveiling of a mystery that had been kept hidden for ages and generations. A mystery that was hidden in the Law and the Prophets. A mystery the prophets recognized but did not understand (1 Pet. 1:10).
We have that mystery revealed to us today in the writings of Paul and the other apostles. What is this unveiled mystery? It is Christ in us, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27).
This unveiled mystery has practical implications for reading the Old Testament. We should read it in light of Jesus and his fulfillment of it. Of the sacrifice he offered and the priesthood he established. Of the kingdom he inaugurated and the inclusion of believing Gentiles. And of a hope that transcends this world and its kingdoms.
