How do Christians view this Bible verse?

Question

24: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
-Colossians, chapter 1

By the way, this is the apostle Paul who wrote this.

Answer 1

Amen,, count it all cost when we suffer for His names sake...Jesus...

Answer 2

Paul has been imprisoned many times for preaching the gospel yet he considers it a privilege to be in prison for such a cause. Some feel he had a guilt complex because Paul used to murder christians before his own conversion. I don't know if I buy into the guilt thing. But he did use the time wisely in prison to write this letter, which being inspired by God, later became a part of the New Testament. Also, historically, I believe he was an old man at this point in time. "His body" represents the world-wide body of believers (similar to the usage of the words "student body"). So in essence, he's saying his physical body is lacking for the sake of Christ but he's making it up by writing to Christ's "body" of believers.

In answering the question, christians view the verse as both historical and personal (for those going through similar experiences).

Answer 3

Paul suffered much during the time of his earthly ministry to the different churches. And any Christian who has had to suffer for the sake of others, has been rewarded greatly by the Lord Jesus; or if they have not yet been rewarded for it, they can look forward to it in the future. Even though Christ suffered much more affliction while He was on this earth, than any other person shall ever suffer, it does not mean that we as Christians shall never suffer any affliction during our Christian life. Jesus told us while He was here on the earth, that if they persecuted me, they shall also persecute you. He let us know in his Holy Word that we would suffer much as Christians while we are on this earth. But He also assured us that we would be greatly rewarded for any suffering that we face here on this earth. If we are going to be a servant of the Lord Jesus, then we might as well expect to see persecution come our way. The devil is working harder today to bring hardships and persecution upon the Church of Jesus Christ than he has ever worked before. He is doing so because he knows that he does not have very much time left. Jesus is coming soon! Very Soon! Jesus personally gave me this promise. So let us take upon us the whole armor of God, that we are told of in Eph. 6:12-18. For our Christian battles are not going to cease until the Lord raptures us from this earth. And you can rest assured, it is not nearly as far away as many people think.

Answer 4

i find it hard to understand what Paul says though he does have some quotes i like to use.

Col 1:24 ¶ 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:

i think he is just saying that he knows how Jesus felt.

Answer 5

Quick answer: With difficulty.
2nd opinion answer: Mt. 5:11
AND...it is a spot of mystery. Paul evidently believed there needed to be a completion of Christ's suffering through the church before the Kingdom would be fully realized. This is somewhat like OT accounts where the bucket of evil had to be filled before punishment descended. With Paul, it runs in the other direction, i.e. bucket of suffering before the good.

Answer 6

When Hirricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of LA, MS, and AL, a lot of people went down there to help. The work was hard, and required many of the helpers to sacrifice their own comfort, money, time with family, etc., but they were glad to help.

Paul suffered many things for the cause of Christ, but he was glad to do so because much good came from his effort! He was able to convert many and strengthen the church. His suffering drew attention to the message he was preaching.

Answer 7

Paul could be saying that suffering is unavoidable in bringing the Good News of Christ to the world. It is called Chrits's suffering because all Christians are related to Christ. When we suffer Christ feels it with us. But this suffering can be ended joyfully because it changes lives and brings people into God'd Kingdom.

Answer 8

Praise the LORD. This is Pauls experience of his Christian life. He was a tormentor who in his converted life was tormented for his belief in Christ. Christ was hated for His teachings and was crucified. The next to Christ was Paul with his massive revelations about Spiritual life. No wonder he too was hated and many times close to his death. 2 Corinthians 11: 23-28
"...I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches."

Answer 9

Col 1:24 -
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you - For you as a part of the Gentile world. It was not for the Colossians alone, but he regarded himself as suffering on account of his labors in preaching to the pagan at large. His trials at Rome had come upon him because he had maintained that the wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles was broken down, and that the gospel was to be preached indiscriminately to all mankind;

And fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ - That which I lack of coming up to the sufferings which Christ endured in the cause of the church. The apostle seems to mean:
(1)that he suffered in the same cause as that for which Christ suffered;
(2)that he endured the same kind of sufferings, to some extent, in reproaches, persecutions, and opposition from the world;
(3)that he had not yet suffered as much as Christ did in this cause, and, though be had suffered greatly, yet there was much that was lacking to make him equal in this respect to the Saviour; and,
(4)that he felt that it was an object to be earnestly desired to be made in all respects just like Christ, and that in his present circumstances he was fast filling up that which was lacking, so that he would have a more complete resemblance to him.
What he says here is based on the leading desire of his soul - the great principle of his life - to be just like Christ; alike in moral character, in suffering, and in destiny. Having this strong wish, he had been led to pursue a course of life which conducted him through trials strongly resembling those which Christ himself endured; and, as fast as possible, he was filling up that in which he now fell short. He does not mean that there was anything lacking or deficient in the sufferings which Christ endured in making an atonement which was to be supplied by his followers, so that their merits might be added to his in order to secure the salvation of men, as the Romanists seem to suppose; but that there was still much lacking on his part before he should be entirely conformed to the Saviour in his sufferings, and that his present condition was such as rapidly to fill that up. This seems to me to be the fair meaning of this expressions though not the one commonly given. The usual interpretation is, “that which remains to me of affliction to be endured in the cause of Christ.” But this seems to me to be cold and tame, and not to suit the genius of Paul.
In my flesh - In bodily sufferings.

Answer 10

Deep. I had to look in my study Bible. Paul was still taking Christ persecution.