This is a phrase-by-phrase commentary and exposition of the New Testament books of Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon & Philippians - the group of writings collectively called Paul's Prison Epistles. This commentary is in use as a college textbook, yet is suitable for the lay church member.
The epistles of Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians are fundamentally Christological in their content, focusing on the glory of Christ and the grandeur of His church. In these letters, Christians are helped to understand the Deity and pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, and are given unparalleled insight into God's way of saving man. Then having gone to such lengths to show what God has done for all mankind through Jesus the Son, Paul offers inspired teaching regarding how men - His church - should now pattern and live their lives in order to honor and reflect Him, drawing on the power and Spiritual resources He offers.
This commentary is conservative and evangelical Christian in its outlook, yet skillfully examines the Scriptures from multiple theological viewpoints. The book includes Introductory Studies for each of the four epistles, covering authorship, date of writing, original target audience, historical background out of which the letter was written, and the original author's purpose for writing. Additionally, the Introductory Studies fully address Biblical criticism issues unique to these epistles, including an extended review of the intensely Christological passage in Philippians 2:5-11, an examination of what theologians have called the "Colossian Crisis," and the authorship and original destination of Ephesians. Since this commentary presumes the God-inspired nature of all Biblical writing, the author seeks to harmonize the teachings of these New Testament books with other relevant Scriptures, and also helpfully examines the original language in which the epistles were written. This work includes a fully annotated bibliography of other commentaries on these New Testament books so that readers are encouraged to continue their own study of the teachings of Paul's Prison Epistles.
This volume continues the author's series of commentaries on the books of the New Testament written from the unique standpoint of the Restoration Movement, a position which allows him to approach Scripture with no special theological doctrine or dogma to defend and explicate. This approach provides an unhindered freedom to listen to what the Holy Spirit would tell us within the pages of the sacred Scriptures. By deliberately employing the time-honored grammatico-historical method of interpretation, the Word of God is allowed to impress upon our minds the intent the Divine Author had in mind.
Paul's Prison Epistles can play a key role in the 21st century church's mission to help people rightly understand Jesus Christ and His work, and to arrest our culture's slide into gnostic-like New Age ideas that have become part of the average man's worldview. The mystery of God's will is still made known "in Christ", for it is still through Jesus alone that "redemption ... forgiveness ... and the riches of God's grace" are "lavished upon us!" It is for us to "be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might" so that, "having done everything, we may stand firm."
The author is Professor Emeritus of the New Testament at Central Christian College of the Bible (Moberly, MO).
