Suffering Succotash

What role does suffering play in the life of the Christian? That is a reality that some face daily and others run from like the plague. Our Tuesday bible study has brought us to Colossians 1:24, which shares how Paul (writing from prison) viewed his own suffering. Maybe it will help us.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,Colossians 1:24 (ESV)

So how did Paul view is suffering? No doubt Paul suffered, he mentions it 3 times (1:24, 29; 2:1) Paul sees a direct correlation between his suffering and the sufferings of Christ. The most literal translation of Colossians 1:24 says, “I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s suffering for the sake of his body, that is the church.” This raises some questions: What is lacking in the sufferings in Christ? How can Paul suggest that he is suffering on behalf of others like Christ did?

Consider 1 Peter 4:13. In this section Peter is encouraging Christians who are suffering specifically for being Christians. In this section Peter suggests that Christians “should not be surprised with suffering (12)” …that those who suffer “are blessed (14)”…to “not be ashamed, but to praise God (16)” for such suffering…and that such suffering is “according to God’s will (19)”. But in the midst of this section which encourages Christians to endure suffering Peter also clearly says “rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ”. This passage shares two similarities with Colossians, first it is clearly speaking about the physical suffering or affliction of Jesus and secondly there is a sense in which Christians are participating in that suffering. In 1 Peter the correlation is broadened a bit to include all Christians who suffer. But the questions raised above have not yet been answered: What is lacking in the sufferings of Christ? And how can Paul or Peter suggest that they can suffer as Christ did?

1 Corinthians 16:17 is helpful to our understanding of these verses because they include similar phraseology to what is in Col 1:24. Paul is writing to the Corinthians of his joy for the arrival of three close friends and explains that “they have made up for your absence (ESV).” As you look at the word use behind this translation you will see a more literal translation reads, “They have supplied/filled-up what was lacking on your part.” You will now see the similarity to Col 1:24, where Paul stated “I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s sufferings.”

A closer look at the context of 1 Corinthians suggests that Paul is not bemoaning the Corinthians or putting down their generosity or love for him. But there were things that the three friends, who were actually there, could do that the distant Corinthians could not do, because of their presence. Verse 18 suggests that these men because of their presence were able to refresh Paul’s spirit. The thing that was lacking was the physical, real presence of the Corinthians. The force of this idea is communicated well in the NLT which reads, “They have providing the help you weren’t here to give me.”

Now let’s reconsider Col 1:24. Some might say that Paul is suggesting that there is something qualitatively lacking in Christ’s suffering. So that the suffering he is doing actually completes the salvific sufferings of Christ. But even looking a few verses earlier (1:20, 22), Paul makes it pretty clear that Christ alone had settled the issue of justification by his sacrifice on the cross

Rather, consider that Paul’s suffering is not an addition to the sufferings of Christ but an extension of the sufferings of Christ (Tom Wright, Paul for Everyone, 159). What is lacking is only that Christ is not present to suffer personally as the gospel is fully proclaimed and the church faces persecution. In this way Paul “participates in the sufferings of Christ” because he is suffering on his behalf.

In addition, Paul is developing the idea that what is true of Christ is true of them and what is true of them is true of Christ. Later in 2:12-13 the Colossians have been buried with him, raised with him and made alive with him. They are so identified with their Christ, as the body is to the head, that what is true of him is true of them. So here in 1:24 as Paul is suffering he identifies his suffering with the sufferings of Christ, because what is true of him is true of HIM.

Tom Wright suggests some helpful illustrations which in part give a picture of this type of identification. It is like an ambassador when they go overseas they are speaking on behalf of the leader and the people of the country, although he is the only one present he is representing others in his service. Or in certain cultures when someone from a family is embarrassed or attacked it is as if the whole family is attacked. There is a sense of identification between the individual and the corporate body.

At the Passion '06 Conference this year, John Piper spoke on this very verse and he made the statement that the glory of the grace of God was maximally displayed in the suffering of Christ. He then asked the stadium of hip dressing, iPOD carrying, David Crowder loving college students if they would join in maximally displaying the glory of the grace of God by being willing to joyfully suffer for Him. Talk about putting our lives into perspective. So how about it?