Col 1:24 ??

[maximus]

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church…”

Why does St. Paul say this and what are the theological ramifications. What is St. Paul making up for, is it temporal punishment due to sin or something else?

 

[awalt]

From Oxford:

A literal translation, which respects the order of the words, simplifies the matter considerably (Aletti 1993: 135): ‘I complete what is lacking in the sufferings-of-Christ-in-my-flesh’ (cf. Gal 2:20; 2 Cor 4:10–11). There is no reference to the individual Jesus Christ. Paul’s sufferings are those of Christ because Paul is a member of the body of Christ (cf. Phil 3:10), and because Paul’s sufferings reveal the present reality of grace as those of Christ did (2 Cor 4:10–11). Paul has no choice but to struggle on until all have heard the gospel (cf. Rom 15:19; 2 Tim 4:17). He is a minister of the church (1:25), not in virtue of a human commission (1:1; cf. Gal 1:1), but in virtue of the stewardship entrusted to him by God in order to further the economy of salvation (1 Cor 4:1; 9:17). The ‘word of God’, which Paul preaches in word and deed, is now described as ‘the mystery’ (1:26; cf. Eph 3:1–9).

 

[Didi]

This passage can be confusing since we know that Christ’s passion and death were perfect, so what could be lacking?

It is not Christ’s suffering that is lacking, it is ours. We are called to be like Christ in all things, including suffering. If Christ is the Head of the Church and we are the body, we must also carry our cross and suffer for our brothers and sisters. So, we can offer any affliction we have for a specific intention, or for the general intention of all souls.

We are all connected because of Jesus. What we do can affect others and what we suffer can benefit others. Paul also says in 1 Cor. 12:26: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”