I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, (25) of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God, which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, (26) the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. (27) To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (28) Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul. At the time he was writing this letter Paul was under arrest in Rome facing possible death for preaching the gospel. In our opening verses he first refers to the suffering of Christ for our redemption and then talks of his own suffering – with joy. He seems to be saying his suffering seems somehow to add/complete the suffering of Christ but NOTHING can be added to or taken away from the finished work of Christ on the cross despite the fact that some religions teaching (from this verse) that our good works are added to the atonement of Christ. Paul suffered what was aimed at Christ – he suffered for the church and knew that his example was noted. To some the honor of his apostleship might seem tainted but to most he encouraged the faithful not to be intimidated by persecution for the gospel. He rejoices that he does not suffer in vain but aids their faith. He teaches always that what Christ has endured for our salvation is sufficient.

The mystery Paul writes of is one specific area – something known by divine revelation; hidden from the Jews in the Old Testament and to all generations of Gentiles until Christ. A blessing never secret in the Old Testsment – God’s blessing of the Gentiles – but it was believed that this blessing would be through the Jews and subordinate to Jews. Paul here teaches Christian Gentiles are partakers in Israel’s promises and inheritors of Israel’s covenants with God. The special revelation was not given to the twelve but to Paul as apostle of the new dispensation. He was the chosen instrument of God. This mystery could never have been known by human reason. The middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile is broken down.

The letter to the Colossians is a plea for continuance and loyalty to the apostolic gospel. Paul preached Christ, not a system. C.s.Lewis says in Mere Christianity that “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”