Paul’s Suffering for the Church

Paul says that he rejoices in his sufferings for the church and serves by the commission God gave him to make the word of God fully known. The mystery once hidden has now been revealed among the Gentiles as Christ in you, the hope of glory, and so Paul proclaims Christ with warning and teaching so that everyone may be presented mature in him, laboring by Christ's powerful energy at work within him.

N²⁴ow I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church. ²⁵I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God, ²⁶the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. ²⁷To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. ²⁹To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.