I now rejoice in my suffering for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, (25) of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God. (26) which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God. (26) the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. (27) To them God willed to make what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (28) Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul. The context is about gospel suffering – suffering as one hears the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. Paul was in a Roman prison for his love for Christ when he wrote this letter, writing to the Collossians in order to refute heretical teachings and establish the truth of the gospel. When we make Jesus Christ and Christian revelation only part of total religious system or philosophy we do not give Him pre eminence. When we strive for spiritual perfection or spiritual fullness by means of formulas, discipline or rituals, we go backwards instead of forward. Paul’s heart was so full of thankfulness and praise for rhe Lord, he would have the Colossians continue in the faith in Christ, grounded and saved; built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. We find that Paul is doing what he exhorted the Colossians to do – namely rejoicing in his own suffering. He rejoiced not because of its own sake but because he bears it for the church, regarding himself as filling up that which is behind the afflictions of Christ; Paul is not talking about atoning sacrifice.

We do not share the cross of atonement but we share the suffering which exhibits the power of faith. Ours is the struggling against sin even unto death. We have to be crucified to the world. The glory of fellow suffering with Christ is that afterward there may follow triumph with Him in the power of His resurrection. Many interpreters of verse 24 think it is referring to an atonement supplemental of Christ on the cross – this is directly antagonistic to Scripture which states the sacrifice of Christ as perfect in obedience and suffering: perfect as to need neither supplement nor repetition..

The personal sufferings of Jesus are over but suffering in His people continues. They are still defective for much remains to be endured in this world. The glory of Christian is yet to come but it is certain. Delivering from all evil is followed by the introduction of all good. Christ is the hope of this glory.