Colossians 1:24 24Now I rejoice in sufferings for your sake, and I am filling up the things lacking in the afflictions of Christ in my flesh in behalf of his body, which is the church.
As he often does in his letters, Paul gives himself as an example of faithfulness under affliction. He shows one result of his ministry of the gospel mentioned at the end of verse 23. Part of his calling as an apostle was to suffer for the sake of Christ (Acts 9:16). Few people see suffering as beneficial. Suffering usually involves physical or mental pain, and most of us avoid pain as much as possible. Paul, however, rejoices in sufferings because he saw a benefit for the Colossians. Sufferings (pathēmasin) is plural, implying the many trials Paul experienced in his ministry, many of which are listed in 2 Corinthians 11.
Paul explains in this verse that one reason for his suffering was in behalf of the Colossians. The linkage between Paul’s suffering and the growth of the Colossians was only indirect and came through the preaching of the gospel. Paul saw what he experienced as something that benefited the whole church. His witness of faithfulness of trial provided an example to others. God used this suffering to bring encouragement to those who were facing their own suffering for Christ.
The challenging idea of this verse is found in the phrase filling up the things lacking in the afflictions of Christ in my flesh. What was lacking in Christ’s afflictions? Does Paul mean here that his suffering somehow added to what Christ suffered? The clue comes in the last phrase, that Paul’s suffering was for Christ’s body, the church. His suffering enabled the gospel to reach new people, like the Colossians. There was something in the mission that would have been missing if no one suffered for Christ. One such lack could have been a weak faith. If life is easy and there are no tests of faith, our faith grows lazy and our focus is on earthly matters. If we suffer, we are more apt to shift our focus to heaven and seek the help of God.
Paul is not saying here that his suffering adds to the atonement, but more likely that his suffering has helps others see the power and extent of the atonement. We experience an aspect of Jesus’ own suffering and death when we learn to trust in him in our own suffering. There is a depth to the grace of Christ that we might miss if our lives are comfortable and we rely on our own strength.
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