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Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you; he confirms his call to the ministry of the gospel from his cheerfulness in his present sufferings, so that they should not be discenraged, being it highly contented him to witness and seal his doctrine by bearing his cross for them, Rev_5:2,3 2Co_7:4: see Phi_1:14,20 2:17. The Jews hated him and persecuted him because of his communion with the Greeks and other Gentiles, which occasioned his imprisonment at Rome, Col_2:1 4:3,18 Ac 21:28,29 26:17,18 Eph 3:1; yet this did not deter him from his office, but he took pleasure in doing his duty. Act_5:41 2Ti_2:10, gladly spending himself and being spent for their souls, 2Co_12:15, for their edification and consolation, 2Co_1:6,7 Php 1:13,14.
And fill up; and, the copulative, is used as causal; fill up, not simply, but in one’s turn, implying a contradistinction between what Christ suffered for the apostle, and what the apostle suffered for Christ. Christ in his rank suffered what was necessary for my redemption; now I, in my turn, (by his gift, Phi_1:29), undergo what afflictions are useful for his glory. He purchased salvation by his cross, I advance his kingdom and cause by my combats.
That which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh: one learned man renders this clause, what remains concerning the afflictions for Christ in my flesh; however, if we conceive of things distinctly, we may retain our own translation, considering Paul’s filling up is either:
1. With respect to Christ; so he doth not mean what Christ suffered in his own proper person during his tabernacling here; for neither Paul nor any other penman of the New Testament doth use the term affliction, to express the sufferings of Christ whereby he appeased God’s wrath and satisfied his justice: that he finished in his own person when he gave up the ghost, Joh_19:30, he perfected all completely, Col_1:14,22; nothing will be required from any believer upon that account, Rom_6:9,10 Heb 10:14; there be no remains upon that account, all was filled up by Christ himself. All can be imagined that Paul should mean in this respect, would be only from Christ’s leaving an example, 1Pe_2:21: q.d. As Christ hath suffered for my salvation, so in like manner, following him, I bear his cross, suffering for his gospel and glory. Or:
2. With respect to Paul himself: the sense is, q.d. As I have borne a great part of afflictions for the name of Christ, and in his glorious communion, 2Co_1:5 Gal_6:17 2Ti_1:8,10; so in like manner I fill up the remains of them assigned to me a member of the mystical body, in conformity to the image of him who is the Head, Rom_8:18 1Pe_4:13. I do by little and little accomplish in my present sufferings (which make a part of it) the portion allotted to me in the same afflictions, which are accomplished and accomplishing in our brethren that are in the world, 1Pe_5:9, in time and degree according to God’s counsel, (whereby the Head was preordained to suffer, Act_4:28 1Pe_1:20), which apportioned to every member what share it is to bear, till it be perfectly confirmed to Christ, Phi_3:10,12,21. These sufferings as Christians, 1Pe_4:13,14,16, (which the members undergo in their causes), may be said to be the afflictions of Christ:
(1.) Being for his cause and glory, the troubles they receive upon his account may be called his, the badges of his family and followers, Gal_6:17 Heb_11:26.
(2.) Because of the union between Head and members, 1Co_12:12; they being give, to the whole body, the wounds of his members are his, Act_9:4,16, he doth sympathize with them; but as he finished his work of proper sufferings while in the flesh, so the apostle’s expression intimates here, their sufferings shall not last longer than they are in the body, they need not fear any purgatory afterwards.
For his body’s sake, which is the church: and while Paul suffered here, he adds another reason for the supporting and cheering of him, viz. the usefulness of his sufferings for the whole church, the mystical body of Christ, as Col_1:18; which consideration might sweeten his bitterest afflictions, not only because it was in their service, to further their faith, that he was so persecuted, but for their edification and consolation; this was the scope of his patience, Phi_1:12-14, to encourage those who knew his testimony to embrace the truth, 2Ti_2:10. What the Rhemists and other papists infer hence, that the apostle satisfied for the sins of other believers by his sufferings, contributing to the church’s treasury of satisfactions for temporary punishments, is altogether groundless. It is brutish to conclude, because he sustained afflictions for the edification of the church, that therefore he satisfied for the sins of the church; because he was spent for the Corinthians, that he answered for their faults, 2Co_12:15: he was not crucified for any, 1Co_1:13. To take Paul’s sufferings satisfactory is to derogate from Christ’s merit; none is without sin as Christ was, and as it is necessary for him that satisfieth, Pro_20:9. Christ’s sacrifice became expiatory, being offered by the eternal Spirit, Heb_9:14; he having borne the sins of believers in his own natural body upon the cross, and that by himself, there needs no supplements (could any be found) from others, Joh_1:29 Heb_1:3,8 1Pe_2:24 1Jo_2:2. To conceit there is any need of human satisfactions as supplies to Christ’s sufferings, is to cross the apostle’s main drift here, Col_1:12-14,20-22; he was far from satisfying for himself, Phi_3:9,12, and shows that every man shall bear his own burden. Gal_6:5, however he should endeavour to honour Christ, and edify his church, 2Co_12:10.