Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

Question43:

What are the “sufferings” of verse 24?

Answer43:

Paul in a special manner suffered those sufferings of which he speaks here. To Christ alone, for Paul, as for all saints, belonged those atoning sufferings which He bore once, and for ever; which God never forgets. Still He suffered in many ways here below, in which His love led Him, and He does not exclude us from a share in them with Him ― “the fellowship of his sufferings,” and if we are faithful we may know them in measure. Paul knew them in a peculiar way. It was not here so much “the afflictions of the gospel,” as “sufferings for you” ― Gentiles ― and “for his body’s sake, which is the Church,” of which he speaks. The truths concerning his testimony which led him to prison, and a life of unparallelled devotedness and suffering, which perhaps few if any have ever borne.

Question 44:

“The dispensation” of verse 25?

Answer 44:

“The dispensation of God” given to Paul completed the word of God. Creation, Providence, Law, Government, the Kingdom, Incarnation, Atonement, every subject had been unfolded in the word of God, but one.