This verse is ". . . probably the most controversial in the letter."76
It might have seemed ironical that Paul was in prison, in view of what he had just said about the success of the gospel. Therefore he quickly explained that his afflictions were part of God's plan, and he rejoiced in them. Paul could rejoice because he knew his imprisonment would benefit his readers through his ministry to them in this letter if in no other way. Furthermore he regarded his sufferings as what any servant of Christ could expect in view of the world's treatment of his Master.
". . . the word thlipseon(AV [NASB and NIV], afflictions') is never used in the New Testament of the atoning sufferings of Christ. We, therefore, must reject any conception of a treasury of merit, such as Roman Catholics allow, composed of Christ's sufferings plus the sufferings of the saints and dispensed as indulgences.
"If we also dismiss the interpretations which understand Paul to be referring to sufferings demanded by Christ or suffered for His sake (the natural sense of the genative is opposed to this), we are still left with several alternatives."77
One view is that the phrase "Christ's afflictions"refers to the quota of sufferings the church must undergo corporately before the end of the age (cf. Matt. 24:6; Heb. 11:40; Rev. 6:11).78However this idea is foreign to the context that stresses the contribution Paul's sufferings made to the Colossian's welfare. Paul's point was not that his sufferings relieved the Colossians of their share of sufferings for Christ (cf. 1:28-29; 2:1-2).
A second view is that Paul was saying his sufferings were similar to Christ's. Both he and Christ suffered for believers, Christ on the cross and Paul presently.79Yet Paul wrote here of Christ's sufferings. They were His own.
A third view is that the sufferings of Christ to which Paul referred are those sacrificial works the Lord left for believers to perform.80As Christ suffered during His ministry, so Christians suffer during our ministries. However if this is what Paul meant, why did he speak of them as Christ's afflictions? This view, as the preceding two views, expresses a Scriptural revelation, but that revelation does not seem to be Paul's point here.
A fourth view, the one I prefer, regards the afflictions of Christ as Christ's actual sufferings now, not on the cross but in and through Paul whom He indwelt (cf 2 Cor. 11:23-28).81When believers suffer, Christ also suffers because He indwells us (cf. Acts 9:4).
"It is no wonder, then, that Paul rejoiced in his sufferings. Seen in the light of his union with Christ, they were transfigured and made an occasion for fellowship with Him, as well as a benefit to the body, the church."82
