Paul’s Interest in the Colossians

²⁴ I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.

³ And not only that, but we^[a] also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance,^(A)

⁸ Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, in the power of God,^(A)

⁴ I am being completely frank with you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with consolation; I am overjoyed in all our affliction.^(A)

¹⁰ I want to know Christ^[a] and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death,

⁵ For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ.^{(A) 6} If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. ⁷ Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.

⁸ We do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia, for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself.^(B)

⁹ for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.^{(A) 10} Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^(B)

¹⁸ He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.^(A)

¹³ I pray, therefore, that you^[a] may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.

Faith and Wisdom

² My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy,^(A)