Colossians 1:24-29 → Paul's Ministry to the Church
- Steve Schott
- Jan 14
- 6 min read
Theme
► The main theme of Colossians, in my opinion, is the deity of Jesus Christ - His fullness as God, and His complete sufficiency as having done all that is necessary to save us from our sins.
► Colossians 2:9-10a → "9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete,..."
→ Who Jesus is, is complete - the supremacy of the Person of Jesus
→ What Jesus has done, is complete - the sufficiency of the work of Jesus
• There is nothing that we can add to this to effect, improve, or add value to, our salvation.
► Paul will spend the rest of this letter, both carefully elaborating on the divine character of Jesus, and also being very specific about the completeness of what Jesus did on the cross to obtain our salvation.
► Attacks, if you will, from outside the church (and perhaps some from inside the church), that suggest that more is needed, specifically within the framework of our human efforts, to fully obtain salvation, will be shot down like enemy missiles, the intent of which is to destroy our faith.
Outline
► An outline of the Book of Colossians
→ (This is the outline used by the group of teachers I participate with at our church. All of my blog postings for Colossians are following this outline)
Theological
• Pretty much everything in this section (chapters 1 and 2), including Paul’s greeting, is dialoguing about the truth of Jesus, and how it has impacted our lives, and will continue to do so in the future.
• Even when Paul is dealing with the false teaching, he’s dealing with the false teaching in light of the truth about Jesus he’s already dealt with up to that point.
1 → Introduction to the Book of Colossians
2 → 1:1-12 Greeting and Prayer for the Colossians
3 → 1:13-18 The Preeminence of Christ
4 → 1:19-23 Reconciliation Through Christ
5 → 1:24-29 Paul's Ministry to the Church
6 → 2:1-7 Reaching the Riches of Full Assurance
7 → 2:8-15 Made Alive Together With Christ
8 → 2:16-23 Let No One Disqualify You
Practical
• Once we get into chapter 3, and through chapter 4, Paul’s approach will be much more centered on how to live out this true gospel in our everyday lives, in the community of the body of Christ.
9 → 3:1-8 Seek the Heavenly, Put to Death the Earthly
10 → 3:9-17 Put on the New Self
11 → 3:18-4:1 Rules for Christian Households
12 → 4:2-6 Steadfast Praying, Wise Walking, Gracious Speaking
13 → 4:7-18 Final Greetings
Passage
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
→ When Paul mentions his "sufferings", specifically "for your sake", he's not trying to put a guilt trip on the Colossians. He's just letting them know that he willingly is enduring what he must in order to be of service to them.
→ Logically, the current pain would be his imprisonment, which really is not for them, but for Jesus, as it is Him he is really serving.
→ In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 Paul lists a variety of things he's had to endure, not just for the Colossians, but for the entire church. "23 Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches."
→ In addition to the "sufferings" cast upon him for his work for Jesus, it is apparent that he also had some kind of physical ailment, the leading thought being that he had problems with his eye-sight. While Paul mentions at the end of Colossians, in 4:18 "18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.", indicating that someone else had written down his words for the rest of the letter, in Galatians 6:11, Paul says "11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.", again indicating that he physically wrote that part down in letters large enough for him to read.
25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,
→ Paul goes on to talk about his "stewardship", the responsibility laid on him by Jesus Himself to preach, primarily, but not exclusively, to the Gentiles.
→ The word "minister", which Paul uses to describe himself, in the Greek literally means to be "one who executes the commands of another".
→ Paul's "ministry" and "stewardship" is the "preaching of the word of God,...".
→ Paul's job is to deliver a message from God Himself.
26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
→ The message, in it's purest form, is to reveal the "mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations,...".
→ This "mystery", is the understanding that through Jesus Christ, by the acceptance of who He is and what He has done, leads to the indwelling of "Christ in you," bringing the "hope of glory".
28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
→ Paul concludes this section stating his purpose - claiming that he strives according to the power of God, preaching the good news of Jesus Christ, with the goal to "present every man complete in Christ."
→ The implication of the language meaning not just every MAN, but every PERSON - all of mankind.
→ No human being, at any time, in any place, of any gender, of any color, or any social and/or economic status is not included in this directive. Paul wants EVERYONE for all time to be saved.
So What?
► Paul’s suffering
→ Like Paul, regardless of our physical limitations, and/or opposition we might face, should have the mindset of the eternal destiny of every person we meet. Does the way we behave open the door to the message of God to other people?
► Paul’s stewardship
→ Paul was called to be a minister, preaching the gospel message. In Matthew 28:19-20, we too are called to "19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
► Paul’s message
→ Our message is the same as Paul's - God wants to have a restored relationship with you, but it is only possible when you accept the free gift of eternal life by believing in Jesus. Specifically that He died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins upon Himself, and then rose from the dead to seal the deal.
► Paul’s purpose
→ Paul's desire was to “present every man complete in Christ.” In our relationships with other people - good, bad, or otherwise - we should always seek their best. That they would know Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
Photo • 02/14/2025 - Looking at the Pacific Ocean at the beach at Ventura Pier, Ventura, CA
“Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org”
All linked verses are from the YouVersion at www.Bible.com
Map courtesy of Logos Deluxe Map Set
Comments