Table of Contents

Editor's Preface viii Author's Preface x Abbreviations xi Texts and Translations xvi The Letter to the Colossians Select Bibliography on Colossians 3 Commentaries 3 Other Works 5 Introduction to Colossians 25 I To Whom Was Colossians Written? Colossae and the Colossians 26 II Who Wrote the Letter? Authorship 28 III When Was the Letter Written? Date and Place of Writing 41 IV Why Was Colossians Written? The False Teaching 46 V What Is Colossians Teaching? The Theology of the Letter 60 A Christ 61 B Cosmology and the Powers 63 C The Church 66 D The Gospel 67 E Eschatology 68 F The Christian Life 69 Commentary on Colossians 73 I The Letter Opening: "Just as You Have Received Christ Jesus as Lord..." (1:1-2:5) 73 A Prescript (1:1-2) 74 B The Powerful Gospel of God's Son (1:3-23) 79
1 The Evidence of the Gospel's Power among the Colossians (Thanksgiving and Prayer) (1:3-14) 80
2 The Heart of the Gospel: The Supremacy of Christ in Creation and Redemption (1:15-20) 107
3 The Hope Held Out in the Gospel (1:21-23) 137 C The Mystery of Christ in Paul's Ministry and Christian Experience (1:24-2:5) 147 II The Letter Body: "...Continue to Live Your Lives in Him" (2:6-4:6) 175 A The Heart of the Matter: Remaining Centered on Christ (2:6-7) 177 B The Threat to Christocentric Living: Warning about False Teachers (2:8-23) 183
1 Spiritual Fullness in Christ (2:8-15) 183
2 The Empty Promise of the False Teaching (2:16-23) 216 C Living a Christocentric Life (3:1-4:1) 243
1 Heavenly Thinking (3:1-4) 243
2 Putting Off the Practices of the "Old Self" (3:5-11) 252
3 Putting On the Practices ofthe "New Self" (3:12-17) 273
4 The Lordship of Christ in Earthly Relationships (3:18-4:1) 292 D Exhortation to Prayer and Christian Witness (4:2-6) 317 III The Letter Closing, Greetings, Plans, and Instructions (4:7-18) 332 The Letter to Philemon Select Bibliography on Philemon 357 Commentaries 357 Other Works 359 Introduction to Philemon 361 I A Basic Profile: Author, Recipient, Nature, and Place of Writing 361 II The Situation behind the Letter 364 III The Purpose and Significance of the Letter 369 Commentary on Philemon 379 I The Letter Opening (vv. 1-3) 379 II Thanksgiving: The "Fellowship of Faith" (vv. 4-7) 384 III The Letter Body: Paul's Appeal concerning Onesimus (vv. 8-20) 397 IV The Letter Closing (vv. 21-25) 433 Indexes I Authors 443 II Subjects 449 III Scripture References 451 IV Extrabiblical Literature 469