Colossians 1:27 KJVS
[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:

There are certain words used in the New Testament whose meanings are not well defined and precise when they appear in scripture verses. These words cover a lot of ground. Glory is one such word, and is hard to nail down exactly what it means from one verse to the next. The obvious question to ask is exactly what does the word glory mean in Col 1:27? So let us take a look at two definition found in the Strong’s Concordance from a iPad bible app that I write with.

Strong’s Number
G1391
Original Word
δόξα
Transliterated Word
doxa
Parts of Speech
Noun Feminine

Strong’s Definition
From the base of G1380; glory (as very apparent) in a wide application (literally or figuratively objectively or subjectively): – dignity glory (-ious) honour praise worship.

Thayer’s Definition
1. opinion, judgment, view
2. opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone
a. in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory
3. splendour, brightness
a. of the moon, sun, stars
b. magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace
c. majesty
1. a thing belonging to God
a. the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler,
majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity
2. a thing belonging to Christ
a. the kingly majesty of the Messiah
b. the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ;
3. the majesty
of the angels
as apparent in their exterior brightness
4. a most glorious condition, most exalted state
a.of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ
was raised after he had achieved his work on earth
b.the glorious condition of blessedness into which is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Saviour’s return from heaven

The Thayer’s Definition does a excellent job of giving detailed definitions for the word glory based on context as this word appears in the New Testament. 4b of the Thayer’s Definition is, in my mind, the closest meaning for the word as it is used in Col 1:27. There are several verses that uses the word glory with a similar meaning as in Col 1:27, which would support the meaning I am ascribing to Col 1:27.

Ephesians 1:17-18 KJVS
[17] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: [18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

As in Col 1:27, this verse in Ephesians is conditional. God the Father has to make known, give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of the riches and glory of the mystery, in the inheritance we have in Christ. Both verses are what I call mirror verses and essentially point to the same thing. A recurring theme throughout the New Testament is our hope in the resurrection. Our inheritance in Christ is to inherit the world with Abraham, Ro 4:13, Gal 3:16&29. This is exclusive to the promise seed in Christ and entails receiving a glorified body. The next two verses may have well been written one right after the other.

Titus 2:13 KJVS
[13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Philippians 3:21 KJVS
[21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Apostle Paul goes in more detail of the changing of our vile body in the 15 chapter of 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:41-43,50-52 KJVS
[41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. [42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: [43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Notice in verse 51 Paul uses the word mystery, which points to the very same mystery he mentions in Col 1:27. This mystery is Christ in you the hope of glory and Apostle John wrote of it in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 10:7 ESV
[7] but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

I have wrote of this mystery in greater detail in other articles on this website. If I interested, a search on the word “mystery” in the search box in the upper right of the webpage can be made. But at the end of the day, God has to enlighten the eyes of a individual to understand the riches of the glory of this mystery of God and the inheritance we have in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 KJVS
[12] That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

The body of Christ receives a kingdom that cannot be moved, He 12:28, at the seventh trumpet.

Revelation 11:15 KJVS
[15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.