The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 65

ablC'. "Tiiat which is lacking" is properly "deficiencies." ThG word is distributive --{)DC cl,•ficicncy after another, The verb which governs "<lcfie.,cncics" is n doublG c0mr<>und. The simple verb would give this mcanina, "I fill the deficiencies of the ~mictions of Christ." The single compound would give this meanin::! "I fill up the deficiencies of the afflictions of Christ" (stress being laid on the fact tI;nt whnt the a_postle suppl!ed in suffering aft.er suffering ~et defi~iency a~er deficiency in the afflic- tions. of Chnst). T~e double compound gives th1~ mcanmg, "I on. 911 y part with snlfenng after suffenng meet deficiency aft.er deficiency on the part <if 0/lt'ist in his aftlictions" (stress being laid on the opposition of persons), Protestant commentators (with the exception of Dr. Lightfoot) seem to have settled down into regard.in"' the ajfficticns (!.f Ohrist as those endured by Christ in the sufferings of his people. It is quite script.urn! to identify Christ with the sufferin~s of his people (Matt. xxv. 31-46) • but the bringing in of this identification (with nothing in the language to point to it) hr.s the effect of obscuring the antithesis between the two persons to which the lo.no-uage i;i,cs prominence. It is more natural, then, with Dr. Lightfoot, to adopt the R~man Catholic exegesis, and to re,,<T&rd the afflict.ions of Christ, not as those which he endures mystically in the Church, but as those which he endured personally in his day, He did not complete these so as to preclude his people suffering after him; but Paul and others, with suffering after suffering, were meeting deficiency after deficiency in them. 'l'he Roman Catholic conclusion from this is that saints, by the merits of their sufferings, supplement the merits of the Saviour. But that is an utterly un-Pauline idea (coming in after Christ and making up the deficiencies of his merits), and certainly it is not borne out by the language which is employed here. 1. The sufferings of the apostle can be classed with the sufferings of Christ as aiftictive (not meritorious). In 2 Cor. i. 5 it is said that the su1ferings of Christ abounded to the Corinthians (or overflowed on them). If our snfferings are the overflo\\;ngs (or surplus) of the Master's snfterings, then they are in the same class, only, however, under the aspect in which they are pre- sentea in that passage as sufferings for which consolation is provided. The exclusion of meritoriousness is secnred here by the use of the word "afflictions" (not '_'cross," or "ci.eath," or "snffering of death"). It is trae that in all his afflictions (and not merely in his ci.eatl,) l,e was accumulating merits for his people. Bnt it is qnite consistent with that to regard ti,em separately (compared with ours) as providentially appointed. 2. The sufft:rings of the apostle can be classed with the sufferings of Christ as edifying (not meritorious). There is a generalization of the previous thought. The suffer- ings Gf tbe apostle were edifying, not merely to the Colossians, bat to the body of Christ, which is the Church. They were as prayers, as the sending of the gospel, as stimulus fur the whole body of the faithful. Even we at this day are sharing in the benefit. And, though Christ by the meritoriousness of his sufferings actually gave rise to the Church, yet we can separate (for the sake of comparison) the edifying aspects of them. IIL HE REJOICES IN HIS BUFFEllINGS BECAUSE THEY WERE CONNECTED WITII HIS OFFICE. 1. He was a minister of the Ohurch. " Whereof I was made a minister." It is consonant to a Christian to suffer loss that others may be advantaged, It is cer- t.a.inly consonant to a minister of the Church to be afflicted (in soul and in body) that. othcr8 may rejoice. He is not so much the holder of a benefice as one who wears himself out for souls. It is said of the greatest Minister of the Church that he came uot to be miniskred. unto but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. And Paul. in the B1Jirit of service, was closely assimilated to Christ, He was sowing that others might reap, labouring that others might enter on his labours. 2, He was ci,arged with tJ-.e ,,,,y6tery relating to the Gentiles. " According to the dispensation of God which was given me to yon-ward, to fulfil the Word of God, even the mystery which Lath been hid from all ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested tc Lis saints." .A.E, a minister of the Church, he held an office of trust. He was a. steward i[l tLe Louse of God. His office was of Divine appointment. It had reference to the Colossi.ans, but not to them exclusively, only to them as representatives of the Gentile wc,rl_d. fo this office be was charged. to fulfil (to complete the round of) a Divine dcehratiun. 'l'his was the mystery bid from the ages and from the generations (making up tl,e a~c:.,), but ruanifost.ed (brought into the clear light) to the saints of that day. 3. :I'i,i& r,,y&terv was a vlorwu., munifebta,tion. "'.l.'o whum God waa pleased to make OH, I, 1-20.] TUE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 69