The Letter to the Colossians and the Letter to PhilemonSample

Paul is in prison—and he's even happy about it. He writes that he fills up in his body what is still lacking in Christ's afflictions. This is one of the most difficult sentences of Paul's to understand. What does Paul mean?

Important: Paul does not mean that Jesus' work was incomplete. Our salvation is completed solely through Jesus' death and resurrection—nothing needs to be added (cf. Colossians 1:13–14).

So what is he talking about? Paul is convinced that the church will have to suffer until Jesus returns. This is part of God's plan (cf. Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 1:5). So, when Paul is in prison, he sees it as his share in these sufferings. He bears a part of it—for his fellow Christians, for the church, for Jesus, the head of the church. That is why he can have joy even while in chains.

How do you personally experience this? Does the idea that suffering is part of God's plan for His church help you, or does it trouble you?