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: (Colossians 1:24)
Compare Eph. 3:1. Paul rejoices in bearing persecution for Christ’s sake, if through this experience the faith of Christians can be increased.
Fill up.
Gr. antanaplēroō, “to fill up in turn,”“to fill up vicariously.” The word occurs in the NT only here.
That which is behind.
Literally, “the lacking things,” that is, what is lacking.
Tribulation and affliction are the lot of the Christian (see Acts 14:22; Phil. 1:29; cf. 2 Cor. 1:5; 4:10; 1 Thess. 3:3). Paul is thinking of the sufferings he will be called upon the endure. He is happy that he can bear afflictions for the cause of Christ.
Afflictions of Christ.
That is, afflictions for Christ. The phrase must not be understood as describing the sufferings Christ endured, for then the passage would imply that there was something lacking in the sufferings of Christ. Furthermore, the word translated “afflictions” is nowhere used of the sufferings of Christ.
In my flesh.
That is, Paul’s personal sufferings.
For his body’s sake.
That is, for the sake of Christ’s body—His church (cf. Eph. 1:22, 23).