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"Who now rejoice in my sufferings FOR YOU, and fill up that which is lacking of the
tribulations of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the Church . . . . . Christ in
you the hope of GLORY."
The apostle suffered much and deeply not only because he believed on the Lord Jesus,
but because to him had been given the ministry of the gospel to the GENTILES. It comes
in Eph. 3: 1, "I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles". For the mystery of
the gospel he was "an ambassador in a chain" (Eph. 6: 20). Writing later to Timothy,
Paul concerning the gospel:--
"Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the
GENTILES, for the which cause I also suffer these things" (II Tim. 1: 11, 12).
". . . . . my gospel, wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds . . . . .
therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation
which is in Christ Jesus with aionian GLORY" (II Tim. 2: 8-10).
The strong expression of Col. 1: 24:--
"I fill up that which is lacking of the tribulations of Christ . . . . . for His . . . . . church."
finds an echo in II Cor. 1: 5, 6:--
"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by
Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation."
The faithful witness of the apostle Paul, humanly speaking, was for our glory. Had
man had his way, the glorious testimony of the prison epistles would have been blotted
out together with that which is most vital in the other epistles. At Jerusalem before the
apostles and elders he gave place by subjection no not for an hour "that the truth of the
gospel might continue right through" to us Gentiles (Gal. 2: 4, 5). When the apostle was
brought to a saving knowledge of Christ, Ananias was told by the Lord:--
"He is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and Kings and
children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name's
sake" (Acts 9: 15, 16).
Paul knew when he started upon his ministry that suffering awaited him. He accepted
the "good deposit" and through good report and evil report he maintained his witness.
What shall we think of ourselves, we who are not worthy to loose the latchet of his shoes,
when we bemoan the little, the petty inconveniences and losses that we may undergo for
the same blessed truth? Some class us with the Higher Critics, because they say we cut
up the Bible! Some say we put Paul above Christ. Some say--well, what do they say?
We know Whom we have believed, and it is enough.
The Emphatic Diaglott translates verse 13 "Therefore, I ask that I may not faint in
these my afflictions on your behalf". Literally the wording runs "Therefore I ask not to
faint" and leaves the meaning somewhat open. The saints even at Ephesus may not have
been so mindful of the absent apostle as to "faint" because of "his" afflictions, but we can
well understand the apostle praying for himself that he may not faint under them, just as