Chapter 1:24-29

Commentary On The Epistle To The Colossians

By the Rev. Horace M. Patton

Colossians 1:24-29

Paul’s Labor For the Church

Verse 24

Paul was in prison in Rome, guarded every moment. He was undergoing much suffering, yet he wrote, I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, which is the church. It seems that Paul was not referring to Christ’s vicarious (substitute) suffering in which He bore in His body our sin and was separated from His Father in Heaven while hanging on the cross. No one but Christ could take our place as the judgment bearer.

Paul could be saying that those who seek to build the Kingdom of God on earth suffer much. We should not be surprised by this. For centuries the spiritual war between good and evil has gone on. As a result of this spiritual war, believers suffer. When believers suffer for His sake, the Lord feels and bears their suffering. Paul has never forgotten the words of Jesus to him on the road to Damascus: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”  Saul was persecuting believers, but the Lord felt their suffering. “In all our afflictions he is afflicted” (Isa 63:9). In the midst of suffering for Christ, Paul could say, Now I rejoice because people were brought into the Kingdom of God and their lives were changed by the gospel.

Verses 25-27

Paul had a special call as a servant of Christ to spread the gospel—to bear witness to the mystery of the gospel. He was to present the Word of God in its fullness—the mystery that had been kept hidden for ages and generations, but now is disclosed to the saints. The word mystery here means truths that were not formerly known but are revealed now that Christ had come. For many centuries the people of God had looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. Now he was revealed to the saints. God’s secret plan is Christ in you, the hope of glory. God planned to have his Son, Jesus Christ, live in the hearts of all who believe in him—even Gentiles like the Colossians.

In Colosse there were false teachers known as Gnostics. They believed that spiritual perfection was a secret and hidden plan that only a few privileged people could discover. Not true! Christ’s message is for everyone! Everywhere Paul and Timothy had gone, they brought the gospel to all who would listen. We need always to remember that “God so loved the world,” not just the rich, not just the good, not just the soloist, not just the popular person, but everyone. Evangelist Billy Graham has said that the ground at the foot of the cross is level; no one has a special claim on God. He loves us all.

This personal call opens the door to every man or woman, boy or girl to experience the hope in Christ. By His dwelling in them, Christ gives those who believe on Him the confident expectation of future glory (blessedness). He is now preparing for the believer a place in the Father’s house. “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you”  (Jn. 14:2).

Verses 28, 29

Whom does Paul proclaim? Christ—the hope of glory! These words we proclaim Him  show us that Paul and the brethren with him were proclaiming a living person, Jesus, not a theory or a system. Jesus is the revelation of God to mankind; He is the center and Lord of creation, the giver of life and the Savior who reconciles man to God by His blood.

Paul says they were admonishing the converts, that is, they were rebuking and warning them in matters of morality and Christian conduct. They were also teaching everyone with all wisdom. Teaching has to do with matters of doctrine. The aim of their ministry was to present everyone perfect in Christ. The word perfect means mature or complete, not flawless. Paul wanted to see each believer mature spiritually. To this end he labored with all His energy, not in his own strength, but in the strength and power of God’s Spirit.

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