Matthew Poole and continuators on Colossians 1:24

24 Who now rejoyce in my sufferings for you , and fill up p that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh , for his bodies sake, which is the Church .

He confirms his call to the ministry of the Gospel from his chearfulness in his present sufferings, so that they should not be discouraged, being it highly contented him to witness and seal his doctrine by bearing his Cross for them, Rom. 5.2, 3. 2 Cor. 7.4. & 1, 14, 20. see Phil. 2.17. The Iews hated him and persecuted him because of his communion with the Greeks other Gentiles, which occasion'd his imprisonment at Rome, c. 2.1. & 4.3, 18. Act. 21.28, 29. & 26.17, 18. Eph. 3.1. yet this did not deter him from his office, but he took pleasure in doing his duty, Act. 5.41. 2 Tim. 2.10. gladly spending himself and being spent for their Souls, 2 Cor. 12.15. for their edification and consolation, 2 Cor. 1.6, 7. Phil. 1.12, 13.

One learned man renders the next clause (what remains concerning the afflictions for Christ in my flesh) however if we conceive of things distinctly, we may retain our own translation, considering Paul's filling up is either (1.) with respect to Christ, so he doth not mean what Christ suffered in his own proper person during his tabernacling here; for neither Paul nor any other Pen-man of the N. T. doth use the term affliction, to express the sufferings of Christ whereby he appeased God's wrath and satisfied his justice; that he finished in his own person when he gave up the Ghost, Ioh. 19.30. he perfected all compleatly, v. 14, 22. nothing will be required from any believer upon that account, Rom. 6, 9.10. Heb. 10.14. there be no remains upon that account, all was fill'd up by Christ himself. All can be imagined that Paul should mean in this respect would be onely from Christ's leaving an example, 1 Pet. 2.21. q. d. As Christ hath suffered for my Salvation so in like manner following him, I bear his Cross, suffering for his Gospel and Glory, or, (2) with respect to Paul himself; the sense is q. d. As I have born a great part of afflictions for the name of Christ, and in his glorious communion, 2. Cor. 1.5. Gal. 6.17. 2 Tim. 1.8, 10. So in like manner I fill up the remains of them assign'd to me a member of the mystical body in conformity to the Image of him who is the head, Rom. 8.18. 1 Pet. 4.13. I do by little and little accomplish in my present sufferings (which makes a part of it) the portion allotted to me in the same afflictions, which are accomplished and accomplishing in our brethren, that are in the world, 1 Pet. 5.9. in time, and degree according to God's Council whereby the head was preordain'd to suffer, Act. 4.28. 1 Pet. 1.20.) which apportion'd to every member what share it is to bear, till it be perfectly conformed to Christ, Phil. 3.10, 12, 21. These sufferings as Christians, 1 Pet. 4.13, 14, 16. (which the members undergo in their causes) may be said to be the afflictions of Christ (1) being for his cause and Glory, the troubles they recieve upon his account may be called his, the badges of his Family and followers, Gal. 6.17. Heb. 11.26. (2) because of the union betwixt Head and Members, 1 Cor. 12.12. they being given to the whole body, the wounds of his Members, are his, Act. 9.4, 16. he doth Sympathize with them, but as he fini[illegible: 1 letter]hed his work of proper sufferings, while in the flesh, so the Apostle's expression intimates here, their sufferings shall not last longer than they are in the body, they need not fear any purgatory afterwards.

And whiles Paul suffered here he adds another reason for the supporting and chearing of him, viz the usefulness of them for the whole Church, the mystical. body of Christ, as v. 18. which consideration might sweeten his bitterest afflictions, not onely because it was in their service to further their faith that he was so persecuted, but for their edification and consolation, this was the scope of his patience, Phil. 1.12, 13, 14. to encourage those who knew his Testimony to embrace the truth, 2 Tim. 2.10. what the Rhemists and other Papists infer hence that the Apostle satisfied for the sins of other believers by his sufferings contributing to the Churches Treasury of Satisfactions for temporary punishments is altogether groundless. 'Tis bruitish to conclude because he sustained afflictions for the edification of the Church, that therefore he satisfied for the sins of the Church: because he was spent for the Corinthians that he answered for their faults, 2 Cor. 12.15. he was not Crucified for any, 1 Cor. 1.13. to make Paul's sufferings satisfactory is to derogate from Christ's merit, none is without sin as Christ was, and 'tis necessary for him that satisfieth, Prov. 20.9. Christ's Sacrifice became expiatory being offered by the eternal Spirit, Heb. 9.14. he having born the sins of believers in his own natural body upon the Cross, and that by himself, there needs no supplements (could any be found) from others, Ioh. 1.29. Heb. 1.3, 8. 1 Pet. 2.24. 1 Ioh. 2.2. To conceit there is any need of humane satisfactions as supplies to Christ's sufferings, is to cross the Apostle's main drift here, v. 12, 13, 14, 20, 22. he was far from satisfying for himself, Phil. 3.9, 12. and shews that every one shall bear his own burden, Gal. 6.5. however he should endeavour to honour Christ, and edifie his Church, 2 Cor. 12.10.

And the copulative is used as causal, fill up not simply, but in ones turn, implying a contradistinction betwixt what Christ suffered for the Apostle, and what the Apostle suffered for Christ; Christ in his rank suffered what was necessary for my redemption; now I in my turn (by his gift, Phil. 1.29.) undergo what afflictions are usefull for his glory. He purchas'd Salvation by his cross, I advance his Kingdom and cause by my combats.