As the Black Death swept across Europe in the 14th century, a violent religious practice soared in popularity. Large groups of people, known as flagellants, would whip themselves in public in hopes that it would turn God’s wrath away and end the plague. Though banned by the Pope, this practice continued to develop. Later, flagellants would privately whip themselves in order to unite themselves to Christ in his suffering. While this example is extreme, the flagellants pose a valid question: what is the relationship between our suffering and our salvation? How does Christ’s suffering correspond to ours? Colossians 1:24 speaks to this issue: “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.”
In this verse Paul says that something is lacking in Christ’s affliction. This should make us pause and wonder: Is Christ’s suffering and death sufficient for our salvation or do we have to suffer in some way to be saved?
To understand what Paul means in this verse, and to answer these questions, I propose to first stress what the verse is not saying, then consider what Paul is saying.
What Paul is Not Saying
Paul is not claiming in any way, shape, or form that Christ’s death is insufficient for salvation or inadequate to atone for sin. Likewise, he is not teaching that there is some suffering or work that we must do in order to be saved. It is abundantly clear, not only from the rest of Colossians but from the rest of the New Testament, that Christ’s death is sufficient to atone for our sins. Leading up to verse 24, Paul writes, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Col. 1:19–23).
Clearly, Christ’s death on the cross is sufficient for our salvation. Through his death we are reconciled to God. As a result of being reconciled to God, Christians are to grow in holiness as they persevere in the faith. Paul also makes it clear that persevering is not about doing good works to secure our salvation. To “continue in the faith” is simply to hold fast to the gospel message.
What Paul is Saying
So then, what does Paul mean by, “I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions?” What Paul says immediately before this claim is quite striking: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.” Paul is full of joy when he suffers on behalf of the Colossians. In my experience, suffering produces misery, not joy. Why would Paul rejoice in suffering?
For Paul, his sufferings connect him to the Colossians, despite never having visited them (Col. 1:4–8). The fact is, there is a fundamental, spiritual connection between every Christian. We are united to one another because we are all united to Christ by faith. So when one Christian suffers for the sake of the gospel, as Paul did, they can be said to suffer for the sake of all Christians. Paul describes this reality at length in 2 Corinthians 1:3–7:
For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
In these verses, Paul tells us that Christians are unified, whether in affliction or comfort, through Christ. This shared affliction and comfort is for the benefit of the body of Christ, and for the furthering of the gospel. This is why Paul rejoices in his suffering. He knows that there is a greater purpose for the afflictions he experiences (2 Tim. 2:10).
This tells us that when one Christian suffers for the sake of Christ and his gospel, they do so to the benefit and blessing of the Church. This truth is something Paul knew from the day of his conversion. As he journeyed to Damascus, Jesus appeared before him and asked, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” When Saul asks who is speaking, he gets this response: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:4–5). When Paul persecuted Christians, he also persecuted Christ himself. This is the nature of the union between Christ and his people.
What is Lacking?
With this understanding of Christian suffering, we can better grasp what Paul is saying when he writes, “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.” Paul’s suffering is for the sake of the church because he is one with Christ and one with fellow believers. Yet, there is still something lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
It is significant that the word affliction is never used to refer to Christ’s crucifixion. Christ’s afflictions, rather, are the hardship and suffering he experienced as a man living in a fallen world. Christ experienced many trials, hardships, and persecutions throughout his life. Yet, Paul says there is something lacking in them. The reason why is that there is more suffering, ordained by God, for the church to experience before the second coming of Christ. Because the church is the body of Christ, its suffering is Christ’s suffering. What is lacking in Christ’s afflictions, therefore, is the suffering that his body (the church) will experience until he comes again.
What Does this Mean for us?
God calls us to a life of both service to Christ and affliction for Christ. Jesus himself said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). To take up our cross is not something we do because what Jesus did on the cross was insufficient. It is something Christians do because we are one with Christ, now in his affliction, but one day in his glorification. As we consider this, let us remember these encouraging words of Jesus: “in the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Just as we share in his suffering, we shall surely share in his glory!
