Colossians, Philemon

677 Pages·1993·2.1 MB·English

by  Ernest Daniel Martin

Colossians, Philemon Believers Church
title:
Bible Commentary
author: Martin, Ernest D.
publisher: Herald Press
isbn10 | asin: 0836136217
print isbn13: 9780836136210
ebook isbn13: 9780585227849
language: English
Bible.--N.T.--Colossians--Commentaries,
subject
Bible.--N.T.--Philemon--Commentaries.
publication date: 1993
lcc: BS2715.3.M35 1993eb
ddc: 227/.707
Bible.--N.T.--Colossians--Commentaries,
subject:
Bible.--N.T.--Philemon--Commentaries.
Page 1
Elmer A. Martens and Willard M. Swartley, Editors
Page 2
EDITORIAL COUNCIL
David W. Baker
Brethren Church
Estella B. Horning
Church of the Brethren
Robert B. Ives
Brethren in Christ Church
Lydia Harder
General Conference Mennonite Church
Gordon H. Matties
Mennonite Brethren Church
Paul M. Zehr
Mennnonite Church
OLD TESTAMENT EDITOR
Elmer A. Martens
Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary
Fresno, California
NEW TESTAMENT EDITORS
Willard M. Swartley
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries
Elkhart, Indiana
Howard H. Charles (for Matthew)
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries
Elkhart, Indiana

Page 3
Colossians
Philemon
Ernest D. Martin
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Martin. Ernest D. (Ernest Daniel), 1924-
Colossians, Philemon / Ernest D. Martin.
p. cm. (Believers church Bible commentary)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-8361-3621-7 (alk. paper)
1. Bible. N.T. ColossiansCommentaries. 2. Bible. N.T. Philemon
Commentaries. I. Bible. N.T. Colossians. English. New Revised Standard Version.
1993. II. Bible. N.T. Philemon. English New Revised Standard Version. 1993.
III. Title. IV. Series.
BS2715.3.M35 1993
227'.707dc20 93-18790
CIP
The paper used in this publication is recycled and meets the minimum
requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is from the New Revised Standard Version
Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National
Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. It is used by permission, as are other
versions used in making comparisons: GNB, Good News Bible; JB, The Jerusalem
Bible; KJV, King James Version; NASB, New American Standard Bible
New English Bible; NIV, New International Version; Phillips, The New Testament
in Modern English; RSV, Revised Standard Version. Scripture translated by the
author is identified by his initials, EDM, or the term literally.
BELIEVERS CHURCH BIBLE COMMENTARY: COLOSSIANS, PHILEMON
Copyright © 1993 by Herald Press, Scottdale, Pa. 15683
Published simultaneously in Canada by Herald Press,
Waterloo, Ont. N2L 6H7. All rights reserved
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 93-18790
International Standard Book Number: 0-8361-3621-7
Printed in the United States of America
Cover by Merrill R. Miller
02 01 00 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Page 5
To my children
and grandchildren,
to feed their interest
in the Word
Page 6
ABBREVIATIONS
EDMAuthor's translation
lit. Author's literal
translation
NT New Testament
OT Old Testament
TBC Text in Biblical
Context
TLC Text in the Life of the
Church
Also see "Abbreviations" on pages 280-281.
Page 7
CONTENTS
Series Foreword 13
Author's Preface 15
Colossians 17
A Letter Exalting Christ: Introduction to Colossians 19
Map of Asia Minor 21
Map of Lycus Valley 22
Getting the Letter Started, 1:1-2 29
* Pauline Salutations 32
* Blessing as a Christian Tradition 33
+ God-Talk in Our Greetings 33
Praying: Giving Thanks, 1:3-8 34
* Biblical Themes Early in Colossians 40
* Paul as a Team Person 41
+ The Noble Vocation of Thanksgiving 42
+ Keeping Faith, Love, and Hope in Balance 42
+ An Unbounded Gospel 42
+ The Human Element in Communicating the Gospel 43
* = The Text in Biblical Context
+ = The Text in the Life of the Church