The Priority of Paul’s Ministry
Colossians 1:24–29
Before the apostle Paul’s salvation, he was continually “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1; cf. 26:8–11). He had a document from the high priest in Jerusalem giving him authority to arrest all Jews who proclaimed Jesus was the Messiah. Those he arrested were severely punished, and some were killed. He also consented to the death of Stephen the faithful deacon (7:58—8:1).
While traveling up the road to Damascus, Paul (then called Saul) was confronted by the risen Christ. This enemy of the cross was converted, baptized by Ananias the disciple, and commissioned to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Christ also told Ananias that Paul was “a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” and that He would “suffer for My name’s sake.” Immediately, Paul became a witness for Christ in Damascus (9:1–22).
Thus, the resurrected Christ commissioned, trained, and gave a revelation to Paul that he was called to preach (cf. Gal. 1:11–24). With this background, he declared to the Colossians, “I, Paul, became a minister” (Col. 1:23).
Paul’s Persecution
Paul became the most persecuted of all the apostles (cf. 2 Cor. 11:22–33). But he was not discouraged: “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church” (Col. 1:24).
When Paul said he filled up in his flesh “what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ” (v. 24), he did not mean there was anything lacking in Christ’s crucifixion that he needed to fulfill. When Christ said, “It is finished” [Greek, teleó] on the cross, He meant His crucifixion was complete (Jn. 19:30). That is, everything needed for Him to atone for man’s sin was accomplished and paid in full.
So, what did Paul mean by saying that he suffered “in my flesh . . . for the sake of His body, which is the church” (Col. 1:24)? He realized his sufferings as a member of the body of Christ are actually sufferings for Christ Himself. Thus, Paul rejoiced in the part he had in suffering for the cause of Christ (cf. Phil. 1:29). Therefore, believing in Christ and suffering for Him are privileges and inseparable experiences. Later, Paul wrote, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Paul rejoiced in his sufferings because of the benefits and blessings he received, which also edified the churches he established.
Paul continued to say, “of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God” (Col. 1:25).
He noted two details concerning his ministry. First, he was made a “minister” (Greek, diakonos), indicating servanthood not by choice but by obedience to a direct calling from God. Second, his role as a minister was “according to the stewardship” (Greek, oikonomia), meaning the oversight or administrative responsibility God gave him to manage something. In this case, it applies to God giving Paul the duty of preaching the gospel and seeing that it was interpreted properly in the churches he established. Thus, Paul fully carried out the responsibilities of the office God gave him.
Paul’s Proclamation
Paul further described his message as “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (vv. 26–27).
The biblical use of the word mystery refers not to something mysterious but to God’s secret thoughts, plans, and dispensations recorded in Scripture, which are hidden from human reason and comprehension until He chooses to reveal them (Dt. 29:29; Job 38—39). Here, Paul referred to the mystery of the church being made up of both saved Jews and Gentiles. They form one body of believers and are indwelt by Christ, which is described as “the hope of glory.”
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul mentioned that Gentiles would be fellow heirs with Jewish believers (2:11–13; 3:1–11). Thus, Paul rejoiced in all the suffering he endured in planting churches and ministering to them. He knew his labor would result in a glorious day of celebration throughout God’s Kingdom to come.
Paul clarified a number of issues in this section. First, the church is identified as the body of Christ. Thus, it could not have existed in the time of the Old Testament, as some teach. Jesus told His disciples that the church would be established in the future (Mt. 16:16–18). The church was formed on the day of Pentecost, following Christ’s ascension to heaven (Acts 1—2).
Therefore, the mystery of the church was not that Gentiles would receive Christ, but that they would be “fellow heirs” with the Jewish people and partakers of His promise in Christ (cf. Eph. 2—3).
Paul’s Purpose
Paul did not preach merely to provide a system of theology for the Colossian church to memorize or proclaim to an unsaved world. He did not intend to establish a worldview for the church, nor did he seek to present his personal doctrine about the Christian faith.
Paul’s purpose in preaching was centered on the person of Jesus Christ. Christ first, Christ second, and Christ last defined Paul’s teaching. As he stated, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5).
Paul’s critics accused him of preaching for personal fame, financial gain, prominence, and dominance over his listeners. But the apostle made it clear to the Corinthians that the opposite was true. He came to them “determined not to know anything . . . except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).
The Judaizers and Gnostics, who were false teachers, spewed false doctrine, glorying in their damnable positions and exploiting people for their own gain. Paul, on the other hand, viewed himself as a bondservant (or slave) for Christ. He was totally subservient to his master, Jesus, in whatever He wanted him to do.
There were two sides to Paul’s preaching. The first, “warning every man” (Col. 1:28), was negative, designed to admonish Christians in order to correct their false beliefs. The second, “teaching every man in all wisdom” of Christ and the gospel message (v. 28), was positive.
Paul’s goal was to present every man “perfect [Greek, teleios, meaning “complete,” “mature,” or “blameless”] in Christ Jesus” (v. 28). This purpose is evident in Paul’s prayer that the Thessalonians’ “whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Th. 5:23).
Paul’s Pursuit
Paul concluded Colossians 1 by describing his ministry: “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (v. 29).
The apostle’s work was a labor of love. The word labor (Greek, kopiaō) means to toil or work until total exhaustion. No one could ever accuse Paul of laziness. He labored day and night while suffering physical abuse, ultimately to the point of death.
Paul explained his ministry as “striving.” Striving (Greek, agōnizomai) means to agonize, as if contending with adversaries in an athletic contest to win a prize. He strove against the satanic forces of darkness that wanted to annihilate him.
Paul’s struggles did not completely exhaust him. Rather, they undergirded and energized him by means of the Holy Spirit of God performing mightily through him. This supernatural power was the secret of his fruitful ministry, which he summed up well when he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
Like Paul, if your faith is in Jesus, you are an ambassador for Him. You possess the same divine power of the Holy Spirit as you go forth to represent and serve Christ.
