Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Study Note
Study Note
Paul's claim to 'fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ' (ta hysterēmata tōn thlipseōn tou Christou) has generated more theological controversy than almost any other Pauline statement, primarily because it seems to qualify the sufficiency of Christ's own suffering. Most exegetes read 'afflictions of Christ' not as the atoning passion but as the tribulations the Messiah's body endures during the present age — a messianic birth-pangs tradition rooted in apocalyptic Judaism (Daniel 12; 4 Ezra) — so that Paul's sufferings advance the completion of a predetermined eschatological quota. The verse's claim that these afflictions are 'for his body's sake, which is the church' directly connects Paul's suffering to ecclesial benefit, developing a theology of apostolic suffering as vicarious service. The passage is important for any theology of suffering, vocation, and martyrdom in Christian tradition.
Other Translations
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church;
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly,
Now I have joy in my pain because of you, and in my flesh I undergo whatever is still needed to make the sorrows of Christ complete, for the salvation of his body, the church;
Cross References
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you …
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were …
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his …
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were …
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I …
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above …