Letters from Paul

A taste of the study room coming with Paul — pull open whatever you'd like to sit with.

The reading — Colossians 1:24-2:5

²⁴Now 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 assembly; ²⁵of which I was made a servant, according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you, to fulfill the word of God, ²⁶the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints, ²⁷to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; ²⁸whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; ²⁹for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily. ¹For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; ²that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, ³in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. ⁴Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. ⁵For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

World English Bible

The words behind the words

When I write that I "fill up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions" (Colossians 1:24), hear me rightly — I do not mean his suffering on the cross fell short, for that work is finished and complete. The word carries the sense of a measure of affliction yet to be borne by his body, the church, as the gospel goes out into the world; and I am glad to bear my share of it for your sake. And "mystery" here is no riddle to be solved by the clever — it is a thing once hidden and now flung open, spoken aloud: "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

Where else you say this

I take up this same joy in suffering for others' good when I tell you that my imprisonment has served to advance the gospel (Philippians 1:12-14). I speak of the mystery hidden for ages and now revealed to the same effect (Ephesians 3:8-9). And that striving I mention, agonizing as one in labor for souls I have never seen face to face, I felt likewise for the Galatians (Galatians 4:19).

The situation

The believers at Colossae I had not met; Epaphras carried them the gospel and then carried word of them to me. Certain men were pressing upon them a false fullness — a religion of visions, rules, and hidden knowledge that made Christ seem not quite enough. I write from Rome, chained in a rented house, that they might know how I struggle for them and for others I have never seen, and be knit together in love, lacking nothing, having Christ, in whom all the treasures of wisdom are hidden (Colossians 2:1-3).

The hard question

How can anything be "lacking" in the afflictions of Christ, when I preach everywhere that his cross paid all? The difficulty is real, so weigh the words closely. I do not add one drop to his atoning blood — that cup he drank alone, and it is drained. What remains is the cost of carrying that finished gospel through a hostile world, sufferings his body must still endure until the end. Read it there: I suffer "for his body, that is, the church" (Colossians 1:24) — not to complete his redemption, but to spend myself for those it will reach.

This is a small window into what a study room with Paul will hold — word by word, letter by letter, and the maps and journeys behind them. Get notified when it opens →

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