Colossians 1:24

[Legal_Eagle]

Have any official Church teachings touched on this verse? Is there anything from the Fathers or any later or even modern Catholic theologians on this?

Colossians
Chapter 1

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church,

What is “lacking” in the afflictions of Christ? What is St. Paul talking about here?

 

[JimG]

There is nothing lacking in the afflictions of Christ, except the individual afflictions which we all have and which we can put to good use by joining ours to His, thereby giving our sufferings redemptive value. This is perfectly good Catholic theology and has been so from the beginning, as attested here by Paul.

 

[Legal_Eagle]

Bumping for more opinions.

 

[JimG]

Didn’t mean to kill the thread! I would like to hear more opinions too. I think that there has always been a “theology of suffering” within the Church. The main point is that our sufferings are not wasted if we join them to Christ’s sacrifice; they become of great value. I think that is what Paul means by filling up in his own flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ. Because no one can offer those sufferings except us. But others may have different reflections about this passage.

 

[NotWorthy]

What’s lacking? I think it’s our participation in the Sacrifice and the Covenant that it brought in.

Through Jesus’ sufferings, He redeemed me (he freed me from the bondage of sin), but this in and of itself doesn’t get me to heaven. I must participate in the Covenant that this Sacrifice initiated.

Remember, to redeem someone in ancient Israel, was to “buy their freedom” from prison or slavery. Just because I’m out of prison (or slavery) doesn’t mean I can’t commit a “crime” to go back into prison (or slavery).

 

[Genesis315]

Bishop Challoner gives this footnote in my Bible:

24 “Wanting”… There is no want in the sufferings of Christ in himself as head: but many sufferings are still wanting, or are still to come, in his body the church, and his members the faithful.

Also, John Paul II wrote a whole letter on practically just this verse:

Salvifici Doloris (The Christian Meaning of Human Suffering) February 11, 1984 [Apostolic Letter]

 

[thistle]

Have any official Church teachings touched on this verse? Is there anything from the Fathers or any later or even modern Catholic theologians on this?

What is “lacking” in the afflictions of Christ? What is St. Paul talking about here?

The Haydock commentary in the D-R Bible:

Ver. 24. And fill up those things…in my flesh for his body, which is the church.[5] Nothing was wanting in the sufferings or merits of Christ, for a sufficient and superabundant redemption of mankind, and therefore he adds, for his body, which is the church, that his sufferings were wanting, and are to be endured by the example of Christ by the faithful, who are members of a crucified head. See St. Chrysostom and St. Augustine. (Witham) — Wanting. There is no want in the sufferings of Christ himself as head; but many sufferings are still wanting, or are still to come in his body, the Church, and his members, the faithful. (Challoner) — St. Chrysostom here observes that Jesus Christ loves us so much, that he is not content merely to suffer in his own person, but he wishes also to suffer in his members; and thus we fill up what is wanting of the sufferings of Christ. (St. Chrysostom) — The wisdom, the will, the justice of Jesus Christ, requireth and ordaineth that his body and members should be companions of his sufferings, as they expect to be companions of his glory; that so suffering with him, and after his example, they may apply to their own wants and to the necessities of others the merits and satisfaction of Jesus Christ, which application is what is wanting, and what we are permitted to supply by the sacraments and sacrifice of the new law.

 

[Legal_Eagle]

Thanks for your thoughts. I have intended to read John Paul II’s letter for a while now, but I just haven’t

Anybody else have any thoughts?