24Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and I am filling up in my flesh what is still lacking of the afflictions of Christ — for the sake of his body, which is the assembly. [1:25] I became a servant of it according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you — to complete the word of God, [1:26] the mystery hidden from the ages and from the generations but now disclosed to his holy ones. [1:27] To them God chose to make known what is the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the nations: Christ in you, the hope of glory. [1:28] Him we proclaim, warning every person and teaching every person in all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in Christ. [1:29] For this I also toil, striving according to his active working that powerfully works in me.
COL 1:24-29
Paulʼs Suffering for the Church
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, suffering was often viewed as a mark of shame or weakness, but Paul reframes his suffering as a participation in Christ’s afflictions, a concept rooted in Jewish apocalyptic thought where the Messiah’s followers share in his tribulations. The term suggests Paul’s suffering complements Christ’s, not as a deficiency in Christ’s work but as a continuation of his mission. The Paul mentions refers to his stewardship of God’s household, a role akin to a household manager entrusted with divine resources. The , a sacred secret now revealed, contrasts with Greco-Roman mystery cults, emphasizing God’s disclosure to all, not just initiates. Paul’s focus on the Gentiles reflects the early church’s struggle to integrate non-Jews into God’s covenant community, a radical shift in Second-Temple Jewish thought. His underscores the divine power at work in his ministry, aligning with Jewish and Hellenistic ideas of supernatural agency.
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How other translations render this
COL 1:24
- KJV
- Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
- BSB
- Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christʼs afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.
- Koinōnos
- Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and I am filling up in my flesh what is still lacking of the afflictions of Christ — for the sake of his body, which is the assembly.
COL 1:25
- KJV
- Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
- BSB
- I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,
- Koinōnos
- I became a servant of it according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you — to complete the word of God,
COL 1:26
- KJV
- Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
- BSB
- the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.
- Koinōnos
- the mystery hidden from the ages and from the generations but now disclosed to his holy ones.
COL 1:27
- KJV
- To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
- BSB
- To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- Koinōnos
- To them God chose to make known what is the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the nations: Christ in you, the hope of glory.
COL 1:28
- KJV
- Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
- BSB
- We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
- Koinōnos
- Him we proclaim, warning every person and teaching every person in all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in Christ.
COL 1:29
- KJV
- Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
- BSB
- To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.
- Koinōnos
- For this I also toil, striving according to his active working that powerfully works in me.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
COL 1:24
- and:The word translated 'and' here carries the sense of filling up what is lacking or completing something that is unfinished, often with the nuance of reciprocity or substitution.
COL 1:25
- administration:The term translated 'administration' refers to the management of a household or estate, implying careful stewardship, planning, and oversight of resources and responsibilities.
COL 1:26
- mystery:The word translated 'mystery' in this context refers to a secret that was previously hidden but is now being revealed, rather than something unknowable or puzzling.
COL 1:29
- energy:The word translated 'energy' denotes active power or effective working, emphasizing a dynamic and operative force rather than just potential or static strength.