184 sigurd grindheim
ministry (cf. 2 Cor 4:10–11; 8:9; 13:4). this suffering is so crucial that it may
serve as a test of genuine ministers of Christ (cf. 2 Cor 11:4, 13). in his con-
formity to Christ, there is also a strong element of vicariousness to Paul’s
sufferings: “who is weak, and i am not weak? who is made to stumble,
and i am not indignant?” (2 Cor 11:29).23
in the letter to Philippians, the chief model of someone who is willing
to suffer is Christ (Phil 2:5–11). secondary examples include not only Paul
himself (Phil 3:4b–10), but also timothy, who does not seek his own inter-
ests as he slaves (ἐδούλευσεν) for the gospel (2:21–22), and epaphroditus,
who “came close to death for the work of Christ” (2:30).24 all of these
examples of suffering benefit the Philippians and help them heed Paul’s
chief advice in the letter, to live their “life in a manner worthy of the gos-
pel of Christ” (1:27) and gladly accept suffering for his sake (1:29).25 the
thessalonians need no similar exhortation, for they have already become
“imitators of us and the lord,” so that they “became an example to all
the believers in Macedonia and in achaia” (1 thess 1:6–7). the reason for
this is that they received the word through great afflictions and with the
joy of the holy spirit (1 thess 1:6).26
to sum up, it is a running theme in Paul’s letters that his suffering is
vicarious and benefits the churches by giving them an example to imitate.
this suffering is essential to his ministry because it is essential to his union
with Christ. if sumney’s interpretation of Col 1:24 is correct, this verse is
in fact much more closely related to the undisputed letters than the more
popular “messianic woes”-interpretation. what is new in Colossians is not
the significance of Paul’s suffering, but the application of this significance
to a church Paul has not met, and even to the universal church. how-
ever, since to imitate Paul is also to imitate the lord (1 thess 1:6), it is not
23 see further sigurd grindheim, The Crux of Election: Paul’s Critique of the Jewish Con-
fidence in the Election of Israel (wunt 2.202; tübingen: Mohr siebeck, 2005), 100–105,
175–79.
24 similarly, demetrius williams, Enemies of the Cross of Christ: A Rhetorical Analysis of
the Terminology of the Cross and Conflict in Philippians ( Jsntsup 223; sheffield: sheffield
academic, 2002), 141.
25 see further grindheim, Crux, 114–18.
26 similarly, traugott holtz, Der erste Brief an die Thessalonicher (2nd ed.; eKK 13;
neukirchen-Vluyn: neukirchener Verlag, 1990), 48–49. nrsV’s translation “for in spite of
persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the holy spirit” is misleading. the
translators evidently take the participle δεξάμενοι as a concessive participle, but it is better
understood as a participle of accompanying circumstance (so abraham J. Malherbe, The
Letters to the Thessalonians: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary [aB 32B;
new york: doubleday, 2000], 115) or a causal participle. Cf. tniV: “for you welcomed the
message in the midst of severe suffering.. .”