Prison Letters

This volume investigates the respective theologies of the Letters to the Colossians and the Ephesians, and in so doing provides an accessible introduction to the themes and significance of these New Testament books. A. J. M. Wedderburn examines the background to Colossians, and considers both its readers' situation and that of its author. He asks whether the proponents of the teaching against which this letter is written were Christians, putting forward their views as the true form of Christianity (as in Galatia), or whether they existed outside the Christian community as a seductive alternative to it. Andrew T. Lincoln examines in turn the authorship of Ephesians, and tries to explain the letter's strategy of persuasion and the key elements of its teaching about the new identity of the Christian believer. The similarities and differences between the thought of Ephesians and that of Paul are thereby set out clearly. Both sections of the book reflect on the relevance of these letters for today.

The New International Biblical Commentary is a conservative treatment of the Scriptures. This volume on Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon begins with an introductory section which discusses the origin, authorship, purpose, and contents of these letters. The commentary is scholarly yet readable and draws out Paul's message to each church. This is a good commentary for students or informed readers.

“The NIBC has been written by internationally respected experts in Biblical Studies. Scholarly arguments are carefully analyzed and presented in a way that anyone concerned to gain a deeper understanding of the New Testament will find both accessible and helpful. Christians of many different traditions will welcome this series as a valuable resource that will promote better understanding of the Bible and its message.”
—John W. Drane, University of Stirling

A classic ecumenical commentary on Ephesians. In addition to detailed exegesis, Schnackenburg pays special attention to the history of interpretation of Ephesians, taking account of comparative material in the history of religion and, at the end of each exegetical section, shows how findings are relevant for today. The theological focus is the concept of the church, giving rise to ecumenical discussion about ministry and office in the church. This commentary has proved invaluable for biblical scholars, clergy and theological students.

This book analyzes Paul s Letter to the Ephesians and demonstrates that the Letter s implied audience heard its individual units as a rich and complex pattern of chiastic structures. It shows that, not only is the entire Letter arranged in fifteen units that function as a comprehensive chiastic structure, but that each of these fifteen units in turn exhibits its own chiastic structure. By attending carefully to the structure and rhetoric of Ephesians, this work demonstrates how the implied audience is persuaded and empowered by the progression of the Letter to walk in love and so contribute to the cosmic unity of all things in Christ.