Scripture: “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.”
In my New Living Translation Bible, “I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.” This translation seems a little easier to understand (for me). My understanding from this passage seems to relate the personal suffering, perhaps persecution or maybe even physical abuse of Paul as he spread the Good News of Christ. As we work to bring people to Christ, we may suffer rejection, intolerance, etc. which causes us (mental)!pain but we should shoulder willingly because we may bring others into His Kingdom. Any pain we feel in this regard should not be a burden but a joy. After all look what Christ suffered for us?!
Thank you, Guy, for admitting when you don’t fully understand a passage! That gives us all permission to admit the same 😌
In my New Living Translation Bible, “I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.” This translation seems a little easier to understand (for me). My understanding from this passage seems to relate the personal suffering, perhaps persecution or maybe even physical abuse of Paul as he spread the Good News of Christ. As we work to bring people to Christ, we may suffer rejection, intolerance, etc. which causes us (mental)!pain but we should shoulder willingly because we may bring others into His Kingdom. Any pain we feel in this regard should not be a burden but a joy. After all look what Christ suffered for us?!
I do like the NLT, which smooths out phrases for readability.
I have several different translations (Bibles) but really like the NLT for ease of reading and understanding.