Free Bible Commentary
“Colossians 1:24-29”
Categories: Colossians“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”
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I don’t believe that anyone truly enjoys suffering, but Paul was able to “rejoice” because He was following after His Master’s example, and picking up in the suffering of “afflictions” where Christ had left off (verse 24). After Christ had stopped him cold on the Damascus Road and completely turned his life around, Paul’s “purpose” (verse 29) in life was to “fully carry out the preaching of the word of God” (verse 25). Paul was not about to let sufferings, persecutions and afflictions stop him from teaching people the message of eternal salvation that they so desperately needed to hear and obey.
The word of God is considered a “mystery” because the full scope of the truth was once “hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been” made clearly and fully known through the Gospel (verse 26). The mystery is that Christ Jesus is the “hope” and “glory” of the Gentiles as well as the Jews (verse 27). Paul did not discriminate in the proliferation of the Good News, but admonished and taught “every man” (person) regardless of lineage, background or status. His goal was not only to convert people to Christ but also to instill “wisdom” within them so that they would grow to spiritual maturity and be “complete in Christ” (verse 28).
Paul labored and strove for the furtherance of the Gospel because God’s “power” worked “mightily” within him (verse 29). But lest we think that we are not equal to the task because we are not endowed with the power and authority of an Apostle of Christ, let me remind you that there is ample, mighty power dwelling within the word of God itself! “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). Let the word of God do what He designed it to do! Just teach people the truth and do not even give consideration to your own inadequacies! The Gospel is God’s power to save!
Please read Colossians 2:1-5 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
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