24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

1:24-27: How can Paul claim that he is “suffering for [their] sake” if he never visited the church? According to Moule (cited by Pao), “Paul’s sufferings were incurred largely as a result of his apostleship to them.” (123) Because Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles—he is by extension an apostle to the church in Colossae and thus spiritually connected to them (2:1, 5). 

Paul seems to suggest that Jesus’ sufferings were not sufficient in 1:24. Locating this discussion in the “Messianic Woes”—which believes that a “definitive amount of suffering” will occur prior to Christ’s return, “Paul’s reference…may…point to the amount that remains to be filled up in the predetermined sufferings that are to take place in the end times.” (Pao, 126) 

A “mystery” (1:26-27) generally referred to something hidden in the Old Testament, but now has been revealed in the New Testament. Specifically, Paul is referring to Gentiles being brought into God’s family (cf. Acts 10, 15:1-35; Romans 11:11-24; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 3:1-13). 

Jesus reigns when our proclamation and teaching is Christ-centered. We do our Churches a disservice when we add something to the equation of Christ alone = complete satisfaction. We must steer clear of Christ + idols (education, career, popularity, relationships, children, finances, health) = complete satisfaction. 

1:28-29: Being called by God as a servant of the gospel meant that Paul’s life would include proclamation, power (Spirit), perseverance, and pain (plot to kill him: Acts 9:23-25; 26-30; persecuted: Acts 13:50-51; attempted murder via stoning: Acts 14:5, 19; beaten with rods and imprisoned: Acts 16:16-24; mob wanted to murder him, beaten: 21:27-36; imprisoned in Rome: Acts 28:17-30; cf. 2 Corinthians 11:33 for his own reflection).

Paul’s desire in ministry is not limited to evangelism and the forgiveness of sins. He also wants to “present everyone mature in Christ.” (cf. Ephesians 4:11-13 connects maturity with equipping the body of Christ) How do we develop spiritually mature and multiplying Christ-followers? Pathway uses the word PLATES to highlight key principles for discipleship: proclaim the gospel, life together, align ourselves with God/ask God with prayer, teaching ministry of the Word, exalt God, and serve. 

Paul’s ministry was not due to his own effort and strength. His “toil” for the gospel includes “struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (1:29; cf. Spirit in Romans 7:6; 15:13; 1 Corinthians 2:4; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 3:16; 5:18) In addition to the work of the Spirit, Jesus himself reigns in our weaknesses with his empowering grace: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)   

2:1-5: Paul “struggles” (Hughes: “The word originally was derived from the place where the Greeks assembled for their Olympic games,” 256) for churches (Colossae, Laodicea) that he has never personally visited because he understood his calling, ministry, and experience to be part of God’s plan of redeeming the Gentiles (see notes on 1:24-27).

This is a key truth to put into practice. When we feel called by God for a specific job, career, ministry, or service opportunity then we will see our struggles as part of God’s overall plan to redeem, reconcile, renew, and restore His people. (God’s calling is more important and enduring than loving a job, career, ministry, or service opportunity.)

Paul perseveres to encourage Christians to be “knit together in love” and to “reach all the riches…understanding and the knowledge of…Christ.” (2:2-3; cf. 1:9) According to Paul, Christ-followers could fall away from their faith if teaching is not Christ-centered and people are not doing life together. 

I have discovered that many people have fallen away from their faith because they drifted away from Christ (not just theology, but personal relationship too!) and failed to prioritize Christian community (public worship, small groups). 

Jesus reigns in our community when we pursue him through loving one another. When we do life together, Jesus reigns in our community. How do we do life together? Here are seven characteristics for developing community: 

Shepherding Community (Ezekiel 34:1-21; Psalm 23; Matthew 18:12-14; Acts 20:28)

Word-Based Community (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Colossians 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 

4:12) 

Vulnerable Community (1 Samuel 2:1-10; Psalm 32; Galatians 6:2; Romans 15:5-7; James 5:16)

Praying Community (Nehemiah 1: 4-11; Acts 4:23-31; Philippians 4:6-7; James 5:16)

Connected Community (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 1 Corinthians 12-13; Hebrews 10:24-25)

Missional Community (Micah 6:8; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 4:16-21; Romans 1:16; James 1:27)

A Grace-Filled Community (2 Samuel 9:1-13; Philippians 2:1-11; Colossians 3:12-17)

1. How do we learn to “rejoice in [our] sufferings?” (v. 24) 

2. As stewards of God, what has God called us to do? (v. 25)

3. The goal of proclaiming Christ is spiritual maturity (v. 28) Discuss a process for developing mature Christians.

4. Why do you think that proclamation can be explained as a “toil?”  

5. What kind of struggle do you think Paul is referring to? (vs. 2:1-2)

6. What does it mean for “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” to be hidden in Christ? (v. 3) How do we practice this truth?

7. How does Jesus reign in 1:24-2:5? How can these truths make a difference in our lives?