ACC ~ Colossians 1 v24

WHAT IS LACKING? ORIGEN: And the contest must be waged not only to escape denial of our faith but also to escape feeling the first inclination to shame when we are thought by those alien to God to be suffering what deserves shame. This is especially true of you, holy Ambrose, who have been honored and welcomed by a great many cities, if now, as it were, you go in procession bearing the cross of Jesus and following him. … His purpose is to go with you and to give you speech and wisdom—and to you, Protoctetus, his fellow contestant, and to you others who suffer martyrdom with them and complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. EXHORTATION TO MARTYRDOM 36.

CHRYSOSTOM: It seems indeed to be a great thing Paul has said, but it is not based on arrogance, far be it. Rather, Paul’s words come from his deep love towards Christ. For he will not have the sufferings to be his own, but his, through the desire to reconcile these persons to him. And what things I suffer, I suffer, he says, on his account. Therefore, don’t thank me, but express your gratitude to Christ, for it is he himself who suffers. HOMILIES ON COLOSSIANS 4.

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: As you learn those things that are right for you, you have received the promise that goes with them. None of this can happen without labor and tribulation. For these reasons I, Paul, suffer in my traveling and in my preaching to all about what must be corrected … for these things I have functioned as a servant of the gospel. COMMENTARY ON COLOSSIANS.

SEVERIAN OF GABALA: I fulfill what is lacking in the tribulations of Christ through my suffering, which is on your behalf. How so? Because in order to preach to you, I have had to suffer. Since Christ is the head of the body, tribulation will be generated through the word of truth for those who are in the church. These are naturally called the sufferings of Christ. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

THEODORET OF CYR: Paul fills up the sufferings of Christ in the sense that he endures sufferings in order to preach salvation to the nations. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

AMBROSIASTER: Paul confesses that he rejoices in the tribulations which he suffers, because he sees growth in the faith of believers. Thus his suffering is not empty, when by what he suffers he adds to his life. He claims that these sufferings are joined to those of Christ, whose teaching they follow. COMMENTARY ON THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS.

AUGUSTINE: In regard to this is that which in another place the very same apostle says: “I now rejoice in sufferings for you, and I fill up those things which are wanting of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh.” He did not say “of the afflictions of me” but “of Christ,” because he was a member of Christ and in his persecutions, such as it was necessary for Christ to suffer in his whole body, even Paul was filling up Christ’s afflictions in Paul’s own portion. TRACTATES ON JOHN 108.5.1.

AUGUSTINE: And when as a preacher of Christ he was now suffering from others what he had done himself as a persecutor, “that I may fill up,” he said, “in my flesh what is lacking from the afflictions of Christ”; thus showing that what he was suffering was part and parcel of the afflictions of Christ. That can’t be understood of the head, which now in heaven is not suffering any such thing; but of the body, that is, the church; the body, which with its head is the one Christ. SERMONS 341.10.

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