SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:24
Que ahora me gozo en lo que padezco por vosotros, y cumplo en mi carne lo que falta de las tribulaciones del Cristo por su cuerpo, que es la Iglesia;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Colossians 1:24
Verse 24. Rejoice in my sufferings for you] St. Paul always considers his persecutions, as far as the Jews were concerned in them, as arising from this simple circumstance-his asserting that God had chosen the Gentiles, and called them to enjoy the very same privileges with the Jews, and to constitute one Church with them. It was on this account that the Jews attempted his life at Jerusalem, when, in order to save it, he was obliged to appeal to Caesar; the consequences of which persecution he was now suffering in his imprisonment in Rome. See on chap. iv. 2.
That which is behind of the afflictions of Christ] I have still some afflictions to pass through before my race of glory be finished; afflictions which fall on me on account of the Gospel; such as Christ bore from the same persecuting people.
It is worthy of remark that the apostle does not say paqhmata, the passion of Christ, but simply qliyeiv, the afflictions; such as are common to all good men who bear a testimony against the ways and fashions of a wicked world. In these the apostle had his share, in the passion of Christ he could have none. He trod the wine press alone, of the people there were none with him.
His body's sake] Believers, both of Jews and Gentiles, who form that one body, of which Christ is the head.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 24. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you , etc.] The apostle, as soon as he had made mention of his being a minister of the Gospel, thinks and speaks of his sufferings; for those are what always more or less attend persons in such an office; they are appointed to them by God; Christ has foretold them of them; they are necessary for them; they must expect them, and patiently endure them: the apostle was under them now at this present time, for he wrote this epistle in his bonds when a prisoner at Rome, not for any immorality, any crime he had committed, but for Christ's sake, for his Gospel's sake, for the sake of the churches of Christ to whom he preached, for the confirmation of them, and so of these Colossians; and therefore he says, for you; and which he mentions to animate them to abide by the Gospel, for which he was suffering, that it might continue with them and others: nor was he distressed and discouraged at his afflictions, he rejoiced in them, because he had the presence of God in them, the Spirit of God and of glory rested on him, and God was glorified by them; he esteemed it an honour done him that grace was given, and he counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ; and as well knowing that he should live and reign with him, since he suffered with him and for him: and what greatly caused and increased his joy was what follows, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh ; by which are meant not the afflictions or sufferings of Christ in his own person; for these were all over, he was now entered into his glory, was exalted at the Father's right hand, and was crowned with glory and honour: there was nothing left behind of his sufferings, to be undergone by any of his people; he had drank of the cup and all the dregs of it; he had sustained the whole of his Father's wrath, and all the curses of the law, being abated nothing, but was made perfect through sufferings; having perfectly suffered all, he suffered once and once for all, he will suffer no more; nor is there any need of his suffering more or again, for he has finished sin, wrought righteousness, made peace, and obtained eternal redemption; nor had he any partner in his sufferings, nor did he need any, or left any part of his sufferings to be filled up by others; for he endured all and the whole, which the law and justice of God could require in his own body, in the body of his flesh through death; of these sufferings the apostle does not speak, but of such which he filled up in his own flesh; and design the afflictions of Christ in his members, which are called his, because of that near union there is between Christ and them; so that what befalls them may be predicated of him; when anyone of them suffers, he suffers with him, as the sufferings of a part of the body are ascribed to the whole person; and because of that sympathy there is between them, he has a fellow feeling with his people in all their infirmities; in all their afflictions he is afflicted: if Saul persecutes his saints, he persecutes him; whatever injury is done to them, he takes it as done to himself, who are to him as the apple of his eye.
Moreover, hereby they are conformed unto him, and made like him; as he was, so are they in this world; there is a good deal of likeness between the afflictions of Christ and his people, though in some things there is a great disparity; add to this, that the afflictions of the saints are endured for Christ's sake, for the sake of his Gospel, and the profession of his name, and therefore called his, and the more cheerfully bore by them: now of these there were some remains to be filled up by the apostle; not that all the afflictions of the whole body of Christ were to be, or have been filled up by him; there was a great deal left behind by him to be filled up by others, and which has been filling up ever since, and still is, and yet all is not fulfilled to this day, nor will be till the end of time; but he speaks only of that part and measure of them, which was to be tilled up in his flesh; he had his measure of afflictions allotted to him, great part of which he had endured already, but some remained, the measure was not yet full, though pretty near being completed, which gave him pleasure; it was just filling up, and the time of his departure was at hand, when there would be no more sorrow; for it was only while he was in the flesh he was filling up this measure, and would be quickly up; and what added to his joy was, that as these were the afflictions of Christ, and the measure of them was appointed by his heavenly Father, to be filled up by him in this mortal state, so they were for his body's sake, which is the church ; not in the room and stead of the church, and people of Christ, as were the sufferings of Christ personal; or to exempt them from sufferings who all have their share in this life; nor for their sins to make reconciliation for them, and procure the remission of them; nor to redeem them, or obtain salvation for them, all which is completed by Christ; but for their good and profit, that the Gospel might continue and be blessed to the conversion of many, for the increase of the church and additions to it, and for the furtherance of the Gospel, and that such who professed it might be established and confirmed in it, by the sufferings of the apostle for it: and such good effects did follow upon his sufferings and afflictions; they were for the consolation of many souls, the strengthening of weak believers, and causing even preachers of the Gospel to wax more confident, and more boldly preach the Gospel without fear of man.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 24-29 - Both the sufferings of the Head and of the members are called the sufferings of Christ, and make up, as it were, one body of sufferings But He suffered for the redemption of the church; we suffer on othe accounts; for we do but slightly taste that cup of afflictions of whic Christ first drank deeply. A Christian may be said to fill up tha which remains of the sufferings of Christ, when he takes up his cross and after the pattern of Christ, bears patiently the afflictions God allots to him. Let us be thankful that God has made known to u mysteries hidden from ages and generations, and has showed the riche of his glory among us. As Christ is preached among us, let us seriousl inquire, whether he dwells and reigns in us; for this alone can warran our assured hope of his glory. We must be faithful to death, throug all trials, that we may receive the crown of life, and obtain the en of our faith, the salvation of our souls __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
{2: ος 3739 } νυν 3568 χαιρω 5463 5719 εν 1722 τοις 3588 παθημασιν 3804 μου 3450 υπερ 5228 υμων 5216 και 2532 ανταναπληρω 466 5719 τα 3588 υστερηματα 5303 των 3588 θλιψεων 2347 του 3588 χριστου 5547 εν 1722 τη 3588 σαρκι 4561 μου 3450 υπερ 5228 του 3588 σωματος 4983 αυτου 846 ο 3739 εστιν 2076 5748 η 3588 εκκλησια 1577
Vincent's NT Word Studies
24. Who now. Omit who. Now is temporal: in the midst of my imprisonment and sufferings, after having become a minister of the Gospel, and having preached it.
In my sufferings. Not as our idiom, rejoice in, as rejoice in the Lord, but in the midst of; while enduring.
Fill up (antanaplhrw). Only here in the New Testament. Lit., fill up in turn. Rev., on my part (anti). Anaplhrow to fill up occurs 1 Corinthians xiv. 16; xvi. 17; Gal. vi. 2, and elsewhere. The double compound prosanaplhrow to fill up by adding, 2 Cor. ix. 12 (note); xi. 9. Anti on my part offsets Christ in the next clause. Lightfoot explains well: "It signifies that the supply comes from an opposite quarter to the deficiency, and so describes the correspondence of the personal agents," and not merely the correspondence of the supply with the deficiency. That which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ (ta usterhmata twn qliyewn tou Cristou). Lacking, lit., behind. Used with different compounds of plhrow to fill, 1 Cor. xvi. 17; 2 Cor. ix. 12; xi. 9; Philip. ii. 30. Of the afflictions of Christ. The afflictions which Christ endured;
