Bible Strands
Colossians 1:24
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Colossian believers from prison, placing this statement between his charge to remain firm in gospel hope and his affirmation of his commissioned role to proclaim God’s word.
The words — παθήμασιν (pathēmasin) translates literally as "sufferings," and χαίρω (chairō) means "I rejoice," anchoring the verse’s contrast between physical pain and spiritual gladness.
The thread — Rejoicing amid affliction appears in Romans 5:3, the call to endure hardship for the gospel runs in 2 Timothy 1:8, and the parallel of Christ’s overflowing sufferings and comfort is recorded in 2 Corinthians 1:5.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to treat personal hardship as active service to the church, grounded not in emotional resilience but in the commissioned proclamation of the gospel.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Cross-references
- Romans 5:3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- 2 Timothy 1:8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
- 2 Corinthians 1:5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
- Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,
- 2 Timothy 2:9 for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!
- 2 Corinthians 7:4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.
- Ephesians 3:13 So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
- Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
- James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
- Acts 5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.