Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
Colossians 1:24-29
24. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for 24. Nunc gaudeo in passionibus pro vobis, et
you, and fill up that which is behind of the adimpleo ea quae desunt afflictionibus Christi in
afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s carne mea, pro corpore eius, quod est Ecclesia:
sake, which is the church:
25. Whereof I am made a minister, according 25. Cuius factus sum minister, secundum
to the dispensation of God which is given to me dispensationem Dei, quae mihi data est erga vos,
for you, to fulfil the word of God;
ad implendum sermonem Dei:
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid 26. Mysterium reconditum a saeculis et
from ages and from generations, but now is made generationibus, quod nunc revelatum est sanctis
manifest to his saints:
eius.
27. To whom God would make known what 27. Quibus voluit Deus patefacere, quae sint
is the riches of the glory of this mystery among divitiae gloriae mysterii huius in Gentibus, qui
the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of est Christus in vobis, spes gloriae:
glory:
28. Whom we preach, warning every man, 28. Quem nos praedicamus, admonentes
and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we omnem hominem, et docentes omnem hominem
may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: in omni sapientia, ut sistamus omnem hominem
perfectum in Christo Iesu.
29. Whereunto I also labour, striving 29. In quam rem etiam laboro, decertans
according to his working, which worketh in me secundum potentiam eius, quae operatur in me
mightily.
potenter.
24. I now rejoice. He has previously claimed for himself authority on the ground of his calling.
Now, however, he provides against the honor of his apostleship being detracted from by the bonds
and persecutions, which he endured for the sake of the gospel. For Satan, also, perversely turns
these things into occasions of rendering the servants of God the more contemptible. Farther, he
encourages them by his example not to be intimidated by persecutions, and he sets forth to their
view his zeal, that he may have greater weight. 329 Nay more, he gives proof of his affection towards
them by no common pledge, when he declares that he willingly bears for their sake the afflictions
which he endures. “But whence,” some one will ask, “arises this joy?” From his seeing the fruit
that springs from it. “The affliction that I endure on your account is pleasant to me, because I do
not suffer it in vain.” 330 In the same manner, in his First Epistle to the Thessalonians, he says, that
he rejoiced in all necessities and afflictions, on the ground of what he had heard as to their faith.
(1 Thessalonians 3:6, 7.)
And fill up what is wanting. The particle and I understand as meaning for, for he assigns a
reason why he is joyful in his sufferings, because he is in this thing a partner with Christ, and
329 “Et monstre le grand zele qu’il auoit, afin qu’il y ait plus de poids et authorite en ce qu’il dit;” — “And shews the great
zeal that he had, that there may be greater weight and authority in what he says.”
330 “M’est douce et gracieuse, pouree qu’elle n’est point inutile;” — “Is sweet and agreeable to me, because it is not unprofitable.”
99
John Calvin