But what is lacking in Christ’s sufferings? The word “lack” (hysterema) appears nine times in the New Testament and is used to refer to “need” or “poverty” (Luke 21:4; 2 Cor. 8:14; 9:12; 11:9), “what is lacking” (1 Thess. 3:10), and “making up for a group’s absence by representing them” (cf. 1 Cor. 16:17; Phil. 2:30). The latter usage fits our passage because the same root verb “fill up” (anapleroo) appears with the noun “lack.” Paul tells the Corinthians that he rejoiced when Stephanas, Fortunatus,