We are commanded to continue in God's ministry as we are whipped or jailed, yes. St. Paul indeed mixes things that are done to us, such as persecutions, and things that we do voluntarily, as vigils (watchings), fasting, chastity, and knowledge. He commands both kinds.
refer to lots of different translations when a passage is being quetioned
The reason Protestant translations exist in the first place is to lie about the Gospel. Read Douay, and check with the Greek original. You can safely ignore the rest.
To me "the church" is the group of people who are true believers and have surrendered themelves to Jesus.
To you, "the church" is the authority of the Catholic institution.
The Catholic Church is both a group of people, here and in the afterlife, and an institution founded by God and lead by Him. The passage about the Church in Matthew 18, cited before on this thread, is meaningless if it were to refer to the Protestant communities of faith, which cannot agree on much between themselves and don't even pretend to be final arbiters of anything. The proper definition of Church is given by St. Paul as the body of Christ, hierarchical and undivided (1 Cor 12, Col 1, John 17)
Oh for Pete’s sake, you’re digging here. Explain how then are we supposed to know which things we are commanded to do, and which we endure if they happen if Paul “mixes” them? Should we choose to be whipped instead of eating a McDonald’s McFish sandwich with large fries and a Coke? (not such a bad tradeoff, actually) And wait, what do you mean “things we do voluntarily” such as fasting? Earlier you said it was a commandment, and a mortal sin if we didn’t. That sounds obligatory, not voluntary.
That’s a pretty harsh judgement you have there annalex. “Protestant” translations were created for the purpose of lying? Well then. You’ve been indoctrinated well, I see. I am very sorry and sad for you.
I guess we are done here then. The Word of God does not lie, although I agree that there are groups who twist it to control people and suit their own purposes. My only agenda is Jesus and the salvation he offers. For free.