Section 1:24–2:5

Paul told about the way he worked hard to tell the gospel to the non-Jews

Theme: Paul willingly suffered and worked hard so that the Colossians, most of whom were not Jews, would understand the true message about Christ so thoroughly that no one would be able to deceive them.

Paragraph 1:24–29

Theme: Paul willingly suffered so that the Colossians, most of whom were not Jews, would know the message about Christ.

1:24a

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you: Paul was writing about what he had suffered. Here is another way to translate this clause:

And now I am happy about my sufferings for you (Good News Translation)

I rejoice: Paul was not saying that he enjoyed suffering. Rather he was saying that he was willing to suffer for the Christians in Colossae and other places.

for you: The words for you mean “in order to help you,” or “to benefit you.” In this section, 1:24–2:5, Paul spoke mainly about his work to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (those who were not Jews), and so the pronoun you means, “you Gentile Christians.”

The reason Paul had been suffering was that when he preached the gospel, especially to the Gentiles, his enemies had often persecuted him and put him in prison.

1:24b

I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions: This is a difficult expression to understand and scholars disagree about what it means. It is not possible in these notes to explain all the different possibilities. Because of this, these notes present one major view among the many. For other views, you need to consult commentaries.

I fill up: The Greek verb antanaplērō that the Berean Standard Bible translates I fill up means, “I complete (something) by adding what is lacking.” Here it means, “I am completing what Christ has appointed for me to suffer,” or “I am completing my responsibility to suffer [on behalf of Christ].” Paul did this willingly (see the note on 1:24a).

in my flesh: This means that Paul was writing about physical suffering (see Good News Translation).

what is lacking: This clause implies what Christ taught, that is, that all Christians will suffer persecution. So here Paul meant that he was suffering what still needed to be suffered.

in regard to Christ’s afflictions: The Greek word thlipsis that the Berean Standard Bible translates afflictions is not used in the NT to refer to what Christ suffered when he died on the cross. It refers to the persecution, difficulties, and other physical and emotional hardships that Christians suffer. For example, it is used in Matthew 24:9, John 16:33, and Revelation 7:14.

Biblical scholars have different opinions about what the phrase Christ’s afflictions means in this context. The three most common opinions are as follows:

(1) “⌊I am suffering⌋ on behalf of Christ.”

(2) “⌊I am suffering⌋ the sufferings of Christ”—that is, “through my suffering, as a member of the body of Christ, it is as if Christ himself were suffering.”

(3) “⌊I am suffering⌋ in the same way Christ suffered.”

It is recommended that you follow the first option (1). Since Paul was writing about his own sufferings, it seems more likely that he was saying that he was suffering on behalf of Christ, that is, for the sake of Christ. (See Acts 9:16.)

Paul was not saying that what Christ suffered on the cross lacked something. This would imply that Jesus’ death was not sufficient to save those who believe in him. Your translation should be worded carefully to avoid suggesting this.

1:24c

His body, which is the church: See the notes on body and church in 1:18a.

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