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NASB | Colossians 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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Colossians 1:24 ¶ Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ's afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church. |
Bible Question:
I was wondering about this verse in light of Heb 10:10-14: "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." How is it that we "fill up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions," when He has already offered the perfect sacrifice? Thanks, Cheryl |
Bible Answer: Greetings Cheryl, Excellent question! Just what does Paul mean by "what is lacking?"... I have included some commentary that will help us to explore Colossians 1:24 in light of verses such as Hebrews 10:10-14.. "..filling up what is lacking. Does not mean that there was a deficiency in the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Rather, it means that Paul suffered afflictions because he was preaching the good news of Christ's atonement. Christ suffered on the cross to atone for sin, and Paul filled up Christ's afflictions by experiencing the added sufferings necessary to carry this good news to a lost world." (1) "...fill up ... what is lacking. Paul was experiencing the persecution intended for Christ. In spite of His death on the cross, Christ's enemies had not gotten their fill of inflicting injury on Him. So they turned their hatred on those who preached the gospel (cf. John 15:18,24; 16:1-3). It was in that sense that Paul filled up what was lacking in Christ's afflictions (see notes on 2 Cor. 1:5; Gal. 6:17). (*) " (2) And also, "1:24 Because of the union of believers with Christ, Paul's sufferings for the sake of the church can be called Christ's afflictions as well." (3) Today's English Version [TEV] renders this verse in this way, "And now I am happy about my sufferings for you. For by means of my physical sufferings I help complete what still remains of Christ's sufferings on behalf of his body, which is the church." So by reading a few of the above interpretations, we can see from other's points of view that Paul did not intend to mean that Christ's sacrifice was in any way 'incomplete', but that he and all Christians would help to "complete" the afflictions of Christ whenever they are mistreated or persecuted because of His message to all mankind. Whenever we witness, we are 'showing Christ' to that person or group, and we are identifying ourselves truly with Christ, even to the point of bearing part of the afflictions that began when He was crucified and continue to this day. May we also prove worthy to share in Christ's afflictions as we minister the Gospel to all of the unsaved that we know! Blessings to you, Makarios (*) - I will quote the notes on 2 Cor. 1:5 and Gal. 6:17 from the MacArthur Study Bible upon request. (1) The Zondervan NASB Study Bible, 1999, the Zondervan Corporation, Kenneth Barker, General Editor (2) MacArthur Study Bible, 1997, Word Publishing, John MacArthur, Author and General Editor (3) Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition, 1995, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Th.D., Ph.D. |