Colossians

“It is a real pleasure to commend this commentary by one of today’s leading Old Testament scholars on one of the jewels in the New Testament. Colossians is sometimes the neglected Pauline epistle among preachers because of its similarities to Ephesians. Nevertheless, it contains some unique Pauline themes, including the way in which believers in Christ have in some sense already been resurrected in Him. Preachers, teachers, and thoughtful Christians will all appreciate Seitz’s clarity, insight, and theological acumen as he navigates technical matters while pressing home theological and pastoral application.”—Carl R. Trueman, Paul Woolley Professor of Church History, Westminster Theological Seminary, Pennsylvania

“Over against the trend in many contemporary commentaries, Christopher Seitz refuses to treat Colossians as a single, isolated letter. Instead he views Colossians as embedded in the world of Paul, imprisonment, Christian fellowship, and the scriptural canon as a whole. What emerges from Colossians is the sound of a brave and confident Pauline voice, singing of grace, truth, and shared ministry, surrounded by the full and rich choir of Scripture. This is a powerful and deeply theological commentary.”—Thomas G. Long, Bandy Professor of Preaching, Candler School of Theology, Emory University

“That Colossians comes to us as part of a collection of Letters of Paul is a fact everyone who opens an edition of the New Testament will immediately acknowledge. The more striking fact is that very few commentaries explore the reading instructions expressed in this simple observation. Christopher Seitz with his deep appreciation of the canonical context shows how an enigmatic text like Colossians will come to life when readers find the courage to listen to the voice of canonical Paul and not get lost in unsolvable historical riddles. Beautifully crafted, richly annotated, and an excellent example of meaningful narrative interpretation in a historical context.”—David Trobisch, director of the Green Collection