Colossians 1:23-25
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
23 provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.
Christ in Us.[a] 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking[b] in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, 25 of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God,
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1:24–2:3 As the community at Colossae was not personally known to Paul (see Introduction), he here invests his teaching with greater authority by presenting a brief sketch of his apostolic ministry and sufferings as they reflect those of Christ on behalf of the church (24). The preaching of God’s word (Col 1:25) carries out the divine plan (the mystery, Col 1:26) to make Christ known to the Gentiles (Col 1:27). It teaches the God-given wisdom about Christ (Col 1:28), whose power works mightily in the apostle (Col 1:29). Even in those communities that do not know him personally (Col 2:1), he can increase the perception of God in Christ, unite the faithful more firmly in love, and so bring encouragement to them (Col 2:2). He hopes that his apostolic authority will make the Colossians perceive more readily the defects in the teaching of others who have sought to delude them, the next concern in the letter.
- 1:24 What is lacking: although variously interpreted, this phrase does not imply that Christ’s atoning death on the cross was defective. It may refer to the apocalyptic concept of a quota of “messianic woes” to be endured before the end comes; cf. Mk 13:8, 19–20, 24 and the note on Mt 23:29–32. Others suggest that Paul’s mystical unity with Christ allowed him to call his own sufferings the afflictions of Christ.
Colossians 1:23-25
New International Version
23 if you continue(A) in your faith, established(B) and firm, and do not move from the hope(C) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,(D) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.(E)
Paul’s Labor for the Church
24 Now I rejoice(F) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,(G) for the sake of his body, which is the church.(H) 25 I have become its servant(I) by the commission God gave me(J) to present to you the word of God(K) in its fullness—
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