Hidden (2928)(krupto; English = crypt, cryptic) is a verb meaning to cover, to hide, to conceal, to keep secret (either protectively or for selfish reasons). To keep something from being seen. In some contexts krupto means to hide so as to keep secret (eg, Lk 19:42). Krupto speaks of literal hiding in many Gospel passages, but also of figurative hiding, as in Lk 18:34 (cp Lk 19:42) where the meaning of Jesus' words was "hidden from" the disciples (Cp Webster's definition of "cryptic" = having or seeming to have a hidden or ambiguous meaning). In Jn 19:38, krupto is used adverbially to refer to the “secret” (under cover, in hiding) discipleship of Joseph of Arimathea. Barclay - There may well be a word play here (with krupto) which a Greek would recognize at once. The false teachers called their books of so-called wisdom apokruphoi (Greek #614), the books that were hidden from all except from those who were initiated. Now the word which Paul uses to say that our lives are hidden with Christ in God is part of the verb apokruptein (Greek 613), from which the adjective apokruphos (Greek 614) comes. Undoubtedly the one word would suggest the other. It is as if Paul said, "For you the treasures of wisdom are hidden in your secret books; for us Christ is the treasury of wisdom and we are hidden in him." There is still another thought here. The life of the Christian is hidden with Christ in God. That which is hidden is concealed; the world cannot recognize the Christian. But Paul goes on: "The day is coming when Christ will return in glory and then the Christian, whom no one recognized, will share that glory and it will be plain for all to see." In a sense Paul is saying--and saying truly--that some day the verdicts of eternity will reverse the verdicts of time and the judgments of God will overturn the judgments of men. (Colossians 3 - William Barclay's Daily Study Bible) The first instances of krupto in the Septuagint (Lxx) are used to describe Adam (and Eve) hiding himself after his sin (Ge 3:8, 10) and of God's face being hidden from Cain because of his sin of murdering Abel (Ge 4:14). In Ge 18:17 we see the first figurative use when God asked "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" The kryptoé were secret police in Sparta, and the word at times acquires a nuance of cunning. Secret sins are particularly shameful or abominable. kryphaéos is a rare word for “hidden,” kryphe means “secretly,” krypte is a “vault” or “cellar,” and apokryphos means “hidden” (e.g., treasure) or “secret.” Vine - "to cover, conceal, keep secret" (Eng., "crypt," "cryptic," etc.), is used (a) in its physical significance, e.g., Mt 5:14; 13:44; 25:18 (some mss. have No. 2); (b) metaphorically, e.g., Mt 11:25 (some mss. have No. 2 here); Mt 13:35, RV, "(things) hidden;" AV, "(things) which have been kept secret;" Luke 18:34; 19:42; Jn 19:38 , "secretly." (Reference) Zodhiates compares kalupto with krupto - The two verbs, kalúptō, to cover up, and krúptō, to conceal, essentially mean the same thing. The first means to put a cover or lid over something you do not want seen, and the second is to hide something for the same reason. The noun kálupsis (from kalúptō), something covered (hidden), is antithetical to apokálupsis (602]] , a revelation, an unveiling. From the verb krúptō, to hide, we have the adjectival noun kruptón, hidden or secret, and apókruphon (614]] , hid, which in the plural is the name given to non-canonical (extra-biblical) books from Hebrew-Christian tradition. In due time ("The Apocrypha"), God will reveal secret or hidden (kruptón) things to us. (Exegetical Commentary on Matthew) In the present context krupto refers to hiding so as to provide protection, thus preventing one from being harmed. While we are hidden in Christ, we are not to the light of Christ in us hidden from the world that is dying in spiritual darkness (Mt 5:14). NAS Usage: concealed(1), hid(7), hidden(8), hide(1), secret(1), things hidden(1). Krupto is used 18 times in the NT - Matthew 5:14-note "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Matthew 13:35 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD." Matthew 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 25:18 "But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. Matthew 25:25 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' Luke 13:21 "It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened." Luke 18:34 But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said. Luke 19:42 saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. Comment: This is a fascinating statement by Jesus, for it clearly implies they could of and should of know about this day. This enigmatic declaration begs the question - when is this day? What day? Jesus explains in Lk 19:44 that destruction would fall on them "because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” Why and/or how could the Jews have known this day, the day of the King's inauguration (read Lk 19:36-38)? If they had read and received and believed the prophecy of Daniel, they could have known this day (See discussion of Daniel 9:25-note and Daniel 9:26-note). John 8:59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. John 12:36 "While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. John 19:38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Colossians 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 1 Timothy 5:25 Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed. Hebrews 11:23-note By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. Revelation 2:17-note 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.' Revelation 6:15-note Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; Krupto - 113x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Ge 3:8, 10; 4:14; 18:17; 31:20; 37:26; Exod. 2:3, 12; Num. 5:13; Deut. 7:20; Jos. 2:4, 6, 16; 6:25; 7:19, 21; 10:17; Jdg. 9:5; 1 Sam. 3:17f; 10:22; 13:6; 14:11, 22; 19:2; 20:2, 5, 19, 24; 23:19; 2 Sam. 14:18; 17:9; 19:4; 1 Ki. 17:3; 18:4, 13; 22:25; 2 Ki. 6:9, 29; 7:12; 11:2f; 2 Chr. 22:11; Job 5:21; 13:20, 24; 14:13; 15:18; 17:4; 18:10; 20:12; 23:12; 24:4; 28:21; 29:8; 31:33; 34:22, 29; 38:2; 40:13; 42:3; Ps. 9:15; 17:14; 27:5; 31:4, 19; 35:7f; 38:9; 40:10; 54:1; 55:12; 64:5; 69:5; 78:4; 119:11; 139:15; 140:5; 142:3; Prov. 1:11; 2:1; 7:1; 10:14; 11:13; 12:16; 17:9; 25:2; 26:15, 26; 27:5; Isa. 2:10; 29:14; 32:2; 42:22; 49:2; Jer. 4:29; 13:5; 16:17; 18:20, 22; 23:24; 32:27; 38:14, 25; 42:4; 49:10; 50:2; Lam. 3:56; Ezek. 12:6f, 12; Hos. 6:9; 13:14; Obad. 1:6; Krupto is in the perfect tense which indicates that it was hidden at some point in time (day of your salvation) and remains hidden or concealed which conveys the ideas of permanency and irrevocability. The death (aorist tense) is over, but the results of the hiding (perfect tense) of the life in Him abide. Safe in the arms of Jesus, the title of Fanny Crosby's hymn (which was played on August 8, 1885, when U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant was laid to rest in Riverside Park, on the banks of the Hudson River - but believers are safe not just in eternity future but eternity present!)... Safe in the arms of Jesus Play Vocal by Alton Beal Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast, There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest. Hark! ’tis the voice of angels, borne in a song to me. Over the fields of glory, over the jasper sea. Refrain Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest. Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe from corroding care, Safe from the world’s temptations, sin cannot harm me there. Free from the blight of sorrow, free from my doubts and fears; Only a few more trials, only a few more tears! Refrain Jesus, my heart’s dear Refuge, Jesus has died for me; Firm on the Rock of Ages, ever my trust shall be. Here let me wait with patience, wait till the night is over; Wait till I see the morning break on the golden shore. Refrain As Handley Moule says, "The ‘death’ is fact accomplished, the resulting ‘life’ is fact continuing." (PTL!) As missionary James Calvert approached the Fiji Islands, the captain of the ship tried to discourage him from setting ashore on a cannibal island. “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages,” he said. Calvert only replied, “We died before we came here.” Clearly Calvert believed and lived out the truth that “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” We do well to imitate the lives of godly men like James Calvert (cp Jn 13:15, 2Ti 3:10-note, Php 3:17-note, He 6:11,12-note, He 13:7-note, 1Th 1:6, 7-note, 2Th 3:7, 8, 9). John Eadie explains our hidden life as the "life is at once divine and mediatorial—God's gift to believers through Christ; and the gift, along with its medium and its destiny, are hidden in the Giver, as the infinite source. But this concealment is no argument against present and partial enjoyment; for one may drink of the stream and be unable either to detect its source, which hides itself far away and high among the mountains, or conjecture at what distant point its deepening current pours itself into the ocean. The life is not said, by the apostle, to be hidden in itself, either from the world or from believers themselves, as so many commentators suppose. True, indeed, it is mysterious. It is not among things of vulgar gaze. It is a strange experience; none can know it save he who has it. For Christians die and yet live; nay, the moment of death is that of life—the instant of expiry is that of birth. Yet this life is now enjoyed—is therefore now a matter of secret consciousness, though much about it is beyond inquiry and analysis. No one can lay bare the principle of physical life; the knife of the anatomist cannot uncover the cord which binds the conscious thinking essence to its material organ and habitation. But the special thought of the apostle is, that the ethereal nature of spiritual life eludes research, alike in its origin and destiny. Its source is too high for us to climb to it, and its destiny is too noble to be written in human language. As to the former, it is hidden with Christ in God; and as to the latter, it shall not be fully revealed till Christ come the second time in glory. But it shall be ultimately disclosed. For Christ, with whom our life is hidden, shall reveal Himself, and we whose life is so hidden with Him shall also appear with Him in glory. When its medium is revealed, its character and destiny shall also be laid bare." (Colossians 3 Commentary on the Greek Text) Vincent notes that a believer's "new spiritual life is no longer in the sphere of the earthly and sensual, but is with the life of the risen Christ, who is unseen with God". As Paul reminds the Philippians our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Php 3:20-note) Believers were a colony from heaven in Philippi! Christians are citizens of a kingdom not of this world for as our Lord has said My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm. (John 18:36) Spurgeon in Morning and Evening writes that... Regeneration is a subject which lies at the very basis of salvation, and we should be very diligent to take heed that we really are "born again," (Jn 3:3, Ga 6:15, Titus 3:5-note, Jas 1:18-note, 1Pe 1:3-note, 1Pe 1:23-note, 1Jn 2:29, 3:9, 5:1, 18) for there are many who fancy they are, who are not. Be assured that the name of a Christian is not the nature of a Christian; and that being born in a Christian land, and being recognized as professing the Christian religion is of no avail whatever, unless there be something more added to it--the being "born again," is a matter so mysterious, that human words cannot describe it. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." Nevertheless, it is a change which is known and felt: known by works of holiness, and felt by a gracious experience. This great work is supernatural. It is not an operation which a man performs for himself: a new principle is infused, which works in the heart, renews the soul, and affects the entire man. It is not a change of my name, but a renewal of my nature, so that I am not the man I used to be, but a new man in Christ Jesus. To wash and dress a corpse is a far different thing from making it alive: man can do the one, God alone can do the other. If you have then, been "born again," your acknowledgment will be, "O Lord Jesus, the everlasting Father, Thou art my spiritual Parent; unless Thy Spirit had breathed into me the breath of a new, holy, and spiritual life, I had been to this day 'dead in trespasses and sins.' My heavenly life is wholly derived from Thee, to Thee I ascribe it. 'My life is hid with Christ in God.' It is no longer I who live, but Christ who liveth in me." May the Lord enable us to be well assured on this vital point, for to be unregenerate is to be unsaved, unpardoned, without God, and without hope. Three thoughts are suggested by the verb hidden... (1) Safety or security Believers are permanently hidden, securely locked together with Christ. Satan can’t break the lock and no burglar (even false teachers) can break the combination. Thus a believer's salvation is safe & secure with Christ (Jn 10:28). Indeed as Paul writes elsewhere, who shall ''separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'' (Ro 8:35,36, 37, 38, 39-see notes vv35-36, 37-39) (2) Identity Believers are now intimately linked "together with" (sun) Christ in (en) God. This picture expresses the fellowship of the believer, his identity with his risen Lord. Ignatius wrote, “You are then all fellow travelers and carry with you God, and the Temple, and Christ, and holiness, and are in all ways adorned by commandments of Jesus Christ.” He used the word christophoroi, which means Christ-bearers, and it is a lovely description of a Christian identified with Christ, who is in the bosom of the Father (cf Jn 1:18, 10:27, 28, 29, 30). (3). Secrecy. The believer’s life is nourished by secret springs and located “where the world sees Him no more” (cf. Jn 14:19). Thus, his bent of life is to be directed toward its source and away from the visible and carnal. Oswald Chambers writes that... The Spirit of God testifies to and confirms the simple, but almighty, security of the life that "is hidden with Christ in God." Paul continually brought this out in his New Testament letters. We talk as if living a sanctified life were the most uncertain and insecure thing we could do. Yet it is the most secure thing possible, because it has Almighty God in and behind it. The most dangerous and unsure thing is to try to live without God. For one who is born again, it is easier to live in a right-standing relationship with God than it is to go wrong, provided we heed God’s warnings and "walk in the light" (1John 1:7) (Read full devotional) A B Simpson explains that our life.... is hid from the world which cannot understand us. It is hid from the devil who cannot steal it. It is hid often from our own consciousness, and, when we think it gone and mourn our lack of feeling, we find that Christ is still there waiting till the eclipse is over to reveal Himself in unchanging love. The security of our life is not in our experience, but in Him. (A. B. Simpson. Christ in the Bible - Colossians) T. R. Kelly has this devotional thought (entitled "Constant Presence") on a practical aspect of our lives being hidden with Christ in God There is a way of life so hid with Christ in God that in the midst of the day's business one is inwardly lifting brief prayers, short sudden utterances of praise, subdued whispers of adoration and of tender love to the Beyond that is within. No one need know about it. I only speak to you because it is a sacred trust, not mine but to be given to others. One can live in a well-nigh continuous state of unworded prayer, directed toward God, directed toward people and enterprises we have on our heart. There is no hurry about it all; it is a life unspeakable and full of glory, an inner world of splendor within which we, unworthy may live. Some of you know it and live in it; others of you may wistfully long for it; it can be yours. Larry Richards gives an interesting illustration of our new life with Christ: In Tarpon Springs, a little city about 10 miles from where we live, one of the major occupations is sponge diving. The sponge diver puts a helmet on his head, drops into the water, and as he gathers sponges he breathes through air lines fed by pumps in a boat far above him. Without that connection to a source of life far above him, the diver would be unable to survive. Paul is telling us that we too live this life in a dangerous and deadly environment. But we too are connected to a source of life far above us. Whenever we feel down, or get discouraged, or feel endangered, we’re to fix our minds not on what surrounds us, but on what sustains us. The very life force of Jesus flows into and through us. Because we are connected to Him, we will not only survive. We will triumph. (Ro 8:37-note) WITH CHRIST IN GOD: sun to Christo en to theo: (Jn 14:19, Php 4:7-note;1Jn 3:2) No hellish burglar can break that combination! With is sun/syn which conveys the picture of intimate union, bringing out the truth that we are now in (new) covenant with Him and our oneness and identity with Christ. As noted above and worth repeating A T Robertson adds that our life "remains concealed, locked “together with” (sun) Christ, “in” (en) God. No hellish burglar can break that combination." Hallelujah! Eternally Secure, held fast by His Nail Pierced Hands! Believers now share a common life with the Father and Son (cf 1Co 6:17) that by the precious and magnificent promises we might become “partakers of the divine nature” (2Pe 1:4-note). Furthermore our new life with Christ in God is concealed from the world and unbelievers are unable to grasp the full import of the believer’s new life (1Co 2:14). The true manifestation of the sons of God is yet to come in the next world, so that people cannot see what believers really are like (Ro 8:19-note, Ga 5:5, Php 3:20, 21-note; 1Jn 3:2-note) Wiersbe comments that "While attending a convention in Washington, D.C., I watched a Senate committee hearing over television. I believe they were considering a new ambassador to the United Nations. The late Senator Hubert Humphrey was making a comment as I turned on the television set: “You must remember that in politics, how you stand depends on where you sit.” He was referring, of course, to the political party seating arrangement in the Senate, but I immediately applied it to my position in Christ. How I stand—and walk—depends on where I sit; and I am seated with Christ in the heavenlies! When the nation of Israel came to the border of the Promised Land, they refused to enter; and, because of their stubborn unbelief, they had to wander in the wilderness for forty years (Nu 13-14). That whole generation, starting with the twenty-year-olds, died in the wilderness, except for Caleb and Joshua, the only two spies who believed God. How were Caleb and Joshua able to “get the victory” during those forty difficult years in the wilderness? Their minds and hearts were in Canaan! They knew they had an inheritance coming, and they lived in the light of that inheritance. (cf Nu 14:23, 24 regarding Caleb)" (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor) ><>><>><> This verse reminds one of the beautiful phrase in the Song of Solomon and although I believe that it referred literally to a love relationship that Solomon was describing, by way of application, this phrase certainly would be applicable to all believers today... "My Beloved is mine, and I am His!" Song 2:16 "I know," says the spouse (2Cor 11:2, Jn 3:29, Ep 5:31-note, Ep 5:32-note, Re 19:7, 8,9-note; Re 21:9-note), "that Jesus Christ is mine! I can with the greatest confidence and boldness (He 4:16-note, He 10:19, 20, 21-note, He 10:22-note) affirm it. He is . . . my Head, my Husband, my Lord, my Redeemer, my Justifier, my Savior. And I am His! I am sure that I am His. I am His by purchase; I am His by conquest; I am His by election; I am His by covenant; I am His by marriage; I am wholly His; I am specially His; I am universally His; I am eternally His!" A well-grounded assurance (1Jn 5:13, 14, 15) will make a man . . . patient in waiting, courageous in doing, cheerful in suffering. It will make a heaven in a man's heart—on this side heaven; and make him go singing into paradise, despite all of life's calamities and miseries—as he realizes that he is . . . everlastingly chosen and beloved of God, that God's heart is set upon him, that his name is written in the book of life, that there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness, and that nothing shall be able to separate him from Him who is his light, his life, his crown, his all in all. Ah, Christians! only remember what Christ has done for you, and what He is still a-doing for you in heaven (Heb 7:25-note, He 9:24-note, Ro 8:34-note, 1Jn 2:1, 2), and what He will do for you to all eternity (Ep 2:7-note)—and you will not be able to spend your days in whining and whimpering. Christians, your mercies are greater than your miseries! One hour's being in the bosom of Christ, will recompense you for all your trouble and travail on earth! Why, then, do you spend more time in sighing, than in rejoicing? ><>><>><> Safe in Christ - British clergyman F. B. Meyer wrote about two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn. They hired three guides and began the steep and treacherous ascent. They roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveler, guide, traveler, guide. They had gone only a little way when the last man lost his footing. He was held up by the other four, because each had a toehold in the niches they had cut in the ice. But then the next man slipped and pulled down the two above him. The only one to hold on was the first guide, who had driven a spike deep into the ice. Because he held on, all the men beneath him regained their footing. Meyer concluded his story by drawing a spiritual application. He said, "I am like one of those men who slipped, but thank God, I am bound in a living partnership to Christ. And because He stands I will never perish." All of us slip again and again as we walk the Christian pathway. But we are held securely by the Lord, and we can be restored to close fellowship with Him when we confess our sins (1 Jn. 1:9). Yes, we are safe in Christ (Col. 3:3). We can have the confidence that He will keep us and bring us to our final destination. — Richard De Haan Although we stumble every day, The Lord is always there To pick us up, forgive our sin, And show His love and care. --Sper Our salvation is secure because God is doing the holding. Torrey's Topic Union With Christ As Head of the Church -Ephesians 1:22,23; 4:15,16; Colossians 1:18 Christ prayed that all saints might have -John 17:21,23 DESCRIBED AS Christ being in us -Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27 Our being in Christ -2 Corinthians 12:2; 1 John 5:20 Includes union with the Father -John 17:21; 1 John 2:24 Is of God -1 Corinthians 1:30 MAINTAINED BY Faith -Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17 Abiding in him -John 15:4,7 His word abiding in us -John 15:7; 1 John 2:24; 2 John 1:9 Feeding on him -John 6:56 Obeying him -1 John 3:24 The Holy Spirit witnesses -1 John 3:24 The gift of the Holy Spirit is an evidence of -1 John 4:13 SAINTS Have, in mind -1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5 Have, in spirit -1 Corinthians 6:17 Have, in love -Song 2:16; 7:10 Have, in sufferings -Philippians 3:10; 2 Timothy 2:12 Have, in his death -Romans 6:3-8; Galatians 2:20 Have assurance of -John 14:20 Enjoy, in the Lord’s supper -1 Corinthians 10:16,17 Identified with Christ by -Matthew 25:40,45; Acts 9:4; 8:1 Are complete through -Colossians 2:10 Exhorted to maintain -John 15:4; Acts 11:23; Colossians 2:7 Necessary to growth in grace -Ephesians 4:15,16; Colossians 2:19 Necessary to fruitfulness -John 15:4,5 BENEFICIAL RESULTS OF Righteousness imputed -2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9 Freedom from condemnation -Romans 8:1 Freedom from dominion of sin -1 John 3:6 Being created anew -2 Corinthians 5:17 The spirit alive to righteousness -Romans 8:10 Confidence at his coming -1 John 2:28 Abundant fruitfulness -John 15:5 Answers to prayer -John 15:7 They who have, ought to walk as he walked -1 John 2:6 False teachers have not -Colossians 2:18,19 Is indissoluble -Romans 8:35 Punishment of those who have not -John 15:6 Illustrated Vine and branches -John 15:1,5 Foundation and building -1 Corinthians 3:10,11; Ephesians 2:20,21; 1 Peter 2:4, 5, 6 Body and members -1 Corinthians 12:12,27; Ephesians 5:30 Husband and wife -Ephesians 5:25-32 Colossians 3:4 When Christ, Who is our life is revealed (3SAPS) then you also will be revealed (2PFPI) with Him in glory. (NASB: Lockman) Greek: hotan o Christos phanerothe, (3SAPS) e zoe humon, tote kai humeis sun auto phanerothesthe (2PFPI) en doxe Amplified: When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory. (Amplified Bible - Lockman) Lightfoot: Christ, our life, will be manifested hereafter; then you also will be manifested with him and the world will see your glory." Good News Bible: Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory! Phillips: One day, Christ, the secret centre of our lives, will show himself openly, and you will all share in that magnificent dénouement. (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: Whenever the Christ is made visible, our life, then also you with Him shall be manifested in glory. (Eerdmans) WHEN CHRIST {WHO IS} OUR LIFE IS REVEALED: hotan o Christos phanerothe (3SAPS), e zoe humon hotan ho Christos phanerôthêi (1APS): (Jn 11:25; 14:6; 14:19, 20:31; Ro 5:10, Ga 2:20;Php 1:21, 2Ti 1:1; 1Jo 1:1,2; 5:12; Rev 2:7; 22:1,14) (1Ti 6:14; 2Ti 4:8; Titus 2:13; Heb 9:28; 1Pet 5:4; 1John 2:28; 3:2) "when the Christ (Messiah)--our life--may be manifested..." (Young's Literal) CHRIST OUR LIFE IS NOT A METAPHOR BUT A REALITY! John 11:25 Jesus said to her (Jn 11:24), “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, Jn 14:6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 20:31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. 2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus (Where is real life found? In what sphere? See in Christ; in Christ Jesus; in Christ -2) 1 John 1:1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. When - Not "if" but "when"! He will appear! Dear believer, that glorious event is more certain then the sun rising tomorrow! And His Second Coming could indeed be tomorrow! In light of the imminency of Christ's return, John gives us a wise word "Now, little children, abide (present imperative = Enabled by the Spirit, make abiding in Christ your lifestyle!) in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence (parrhesia) and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming (parousia)." (1John 2:28) When a man realizes the nearness of Jesus Christ, he is bound to commit himself to a certain kind of life. If you knew that when you arise tomorrow morning you would see Jesus face to face in the evening, would it not affect the way you conducted yourself during the day? Remember, it is not "IF" but "WHEN"! Christ Who is our life - As discussed below there is no verb "Who is." The text reads "Christ our life." O my, what an overwhelming, profound truth to ponder. It will take eternity to do so! John's purpose of his Gospel was "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of God, and that believing you may have LIFE in HIS NAME." (Jn 20:31). Jesus, the Word of Life (1Jn 1:1, Php 2:16) is the Source of all true life, life indeed, life in abundance! Christ (5547) (Christos from chrio = to anoint, rub with oil, consecrate to an office) is the Anointed One, the Messiah, Christos being the Greek equivalent of the transliterated Hebrew word Messiah, the One Who fulfills the expectation of Israel of a deliverer. Christos in Colossians - (Col 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, (Col 1:2) To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. (Col 1:3) We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, (Col 1:4) since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; (Col 1:7) just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, (Col 1:24) Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. (Col 1:27) to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col 1:28) We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. (Col 2:2) that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, (Col 2:5) For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. (Col 2:6) Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (Col 2:8) See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. (Col 2:11) and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; (Col 2:17) things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. (Col 2:20) If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, (Col 3:1) Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Col 3:3) For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:4) When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (Col 3:11) a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. (Col 3:15) Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. (Col 3:16) Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col 3:24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Col 4:3) praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; (Col 4:12) Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. The Christos was literally the one had been anointed, this anointing symbolizing his appointment to the task of fulfilling the role of the Messiah sent from God (eg, cp Ro 11:26-note)