The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon, 2nd ed. (The Pillar New Testament Commentary (PNTC))

A knowledgeable and evangelical guide to Paul’s letters to the Colossians and to Philemon With brilliant exegesis and sound practical insight, noted commentator Douglas J. Moo explicates the Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon, with an eye toward their application for readers today. Moo bases his commentary on the Greek text of the letters, while accessibly explaining the English text to his contemporary audience. Freshly revised and updated, this second edition remains methodologically sound, authentically evangelical, and pastoral in approach. This invaluable volume of the Pillar New Testament Commentary series offers biblical insights to a wide range of readers, from teachers and students, to pastors and parishioners, to scholars and laypersons. Editor’s Preface Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition Texts and Translations List of Abbreviations Bibliography THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS INTRODUCTION TO COLOSSIANS I. To Whom Was the Letter Written? Colossae and the Colossians II. Who Wrote the Letter? Authorship III. When and Where Was the Letter Written? Date and Place of Writing IV. Why Was Colossians Written? The False Teaching V. What Is Colossians Teaching? The Theology of the Letter A. Christ B. Cosmology and the Powers C. The Church D. The Gospel E. Eschatology F. The Christian Life VI. How Is Colossians Organized? The Structure of the Letter COMMENTARY ON COLOSSIANS I. The Letter Opening: “Just as You Received Christ Jesus as Lord ...” (1:1–2:5) A. Prescript (1:1–2) B. The Powerful Gospel of God’s Son (1:3–23) 1. The Evidence of the Gospel’s Power among the Colossians: Thanksgiving and Prayer (1:3–14) 2. The Heart of the Gospel: The Supremacy of Christ in Creation and Redemption (1:15–20) 3. The Hope Held Out in the Gospel (1:21–23) C. The Mystery of Christ in Paul’s Ministry and Christian Experience (1:24–2:5) II. The Letter Body: “... Continue to Live Your Lives in Him” (2:6–4:6) A. The Heart of the Matter: Remaining Centered on Christ (2:6–7) B. The Threat to Christocentric Living: Warning about False Teachers (2:8–23) 1. Spiritual Fullness in Christ (2:8–15) 2. The Empty Promise of the False Teaching (2:16–23) C. Living a Christocentric Life (3:1–4:1) 1. Heavenly Thinking (3:1–4) 2. Putting Off the Practices of the “Old Self” (3:5–11) 3. Putting On the Practices of the “New Self” (3:12–17) 4. The Lordship of Christ in Earthly Relationships (3:18–4:1) D. Exhortation to Prayer and Christian Witness (4:2–6) III. The Letter Closing: Greetings, Plans, and Instructions (4:7–18) THE LETTER TO PHILEMON INTRODUCTION TO PHILEMON I. Author, Recipient, Nature, and Place of Writing II. The Situation behind the Letter III. The Purpose and Significance of the Letter IV. The Structure of the Letter COMMENTARY ON PHILEMON I. The Letter Opening (vv. 1–3) II. Thanksgiving: The “Fellowship of Faith” (vv. 4–7) III. The Letter Body: Paul’s Appeal concerning Onesimus (vv. 8–20) IV. The Letter Closing (vv. 21–25)