Question:  Dear Greg,

            In Colossians 1:24, Paul says, “I now rejoice in my sufferings 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…”

            How can anything Christ did be lacking in any way?

            In Christ,

            Dave

Answer:  Dear Dave,

            Good question.  The sufferings of Christ to which Paul has reference in verse 24 should be interpreted and understood in the light of the immediate written context, which in chapter one has to do with reconciliation—one of the purposes and achievements of the cross of Christ.  In addition, the sufferings of Christ should be understood in the light of the context of the first century AD during which Paul wrote.

            The sufferings of Christ on the cross are, as you infer, complete and sufficient.  Nothing more needs to be added to his perfect atonement.  But this is not what Paul has in mind.  He speaks of the body of Christ and the sufferings that are part of the call to follow Christ and to be part of his body.  He is also speaking of the suffering that the risen Christ experiences with his people as we take up our cross and follow him.  It is these sufferings that are “still lacking”—the sufferings that Christians face and endure.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht