Series Preface

Author’s Preface

Abbreviations

Transliteration

Map

Colossians
Introduction to Colossians

I. Letter Opening: Paul and Timothy Desire Grace and Peace for the Colossians
(1:1–2)

II. Letter Thanksgiving: Paul Thanks God for the Readers’ Christian Lives
(1:3–23)

A. Paul Recognizes the Genuine Faith, Love, and Hope of God’s End-Time
People (1:3–8)

B. Paul Prays Continually That Believers Would Understand God’s Will
(1:9–14)

C. Christ’s Supremacy over the First Creation Is a Pattern for the New Cre-
ation (1:15–23)

III. Letter Body: Christians Should Strive for Maturity (1:24–4:6)

A. Paul Rejoices in His Struggle to Proclaim Christ (1:24–2:5)

B. Believers Should Live Only on the Basis of Christ (2:6–15)

C. Believers Should Not Be Required to Submit to Extraordinary Religious
Practices (2:16–23)

D. Believers Should Seek Heavenly Things and Not Old Earthly Things
(3:1–4)

E. Believers Must Lay Aside the Sinful Lifestyle of the Old World
(3:5–11)

F. Believers Should Live a New-Creational Lifestyle with a Christocentric
Focus (3:12–17)

G. Believers Should Live Out the New-Creational Lifestyle in the Family
and Workplace (3:18–4:1)

H. The New-Creational Lifestyle Should Lead to Prayer for the Effective
Spread of the Gospel (4:2–6)

IV. Letter Closing: Paul Emphasizes His Pastoral Concern for the Colossians
(4:7–18)

Philemon

Introduction to Philemon
I. Letter Opening: Paul and Timothy Desire Grace and Peace for Philemon and
the Colossian Church (1–3)

II. Introductory Thanksgiving and Prayer: Paul Thanks God for Philemon and
Prays for Him (4–7)

III. Letter Body: Paul’s Appeal (8–21)

A. Paul Appeals to Philemon’s Inner Heart (8–14)

B. Paul Confidently Appeals to Philemon to Accept His Slave
(15–21)

IV. Letter Closing: Paul Asks Philemon to Show Him Pastoral Concern, and
Paul Shows His Pastoral Concern for the Church in Philemon’s House
(22–25)

Excursuses

1. The Problem of Using the Criteria of Vocabulary and Writing Style to Discern
Purportedly Non-Pauline Letters

2. Criteria for Discerning Old Testament Allusions and Their Use
3. “Christ among the Gentiles” as Part of the Mystery

4. The Old Testament Background of “the Uncircumcision of Your Flesh” in
Colossians 2:13

5. The Master-Slave Relationship

Works Cited

Index of Subjects

Index of Authors

Index of Greek Words

Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Writings

In this addition to the award-winning BECNT series, leading New Testament scholar and bestselling author G. K. Beale offers a substantive evangelical commentary on Colossians and Philemon. With extensive research and thoughtful chapter-by-chapter exegesis, Beale leads readers through all aspects of Colossians and Philemon--sociological, historical, and theological--to help them better understand the meaning and relevance of these biblical books.

As with all BECNT volumes, this commentary features the author's detailed interaction with the Greek text and an acclaimed, user-friendly design. It admirably achieves the dual aims of the series--academic sophistication with pastoral sensitivity and accessibility--making it a useful tool for pastors, church leaders, students, and teachers.