Colossians & Philemon (Reformed Expository Commentaries)

The book "Colossians and Philemon" is a part of the Reformed Expository Commentary series. This series seeks to expound on the meaning of the biblical text in a way that is both faithful to the original languages and relevant to the contemporary church. The commentary on Colossians and Philemon is written by Richard D. Phillips, who is a professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary.

Phillips begins his commentary by introducing the two letters. He notes that Colossians was written to a church in Colossae, a city in Phrygia. The letter was written in response to false teaching that was circulating in the church. This false teaching was a combination of Jewish legalism and pagan philosophy. It taught that salvation could be obtained by following a set of rules and regulations, and that it was necessary to worship angels and other created beings.

Paul's letter to the Colossians is a refutation of this false teaching. He argues that salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ. He also argues that Christ is the supreme Lord over all creation, and that there is no need to worship angels or other created beings.

The letter to Philemon is a personal letter from Paul to Philemon, a wealthy Christian who lived in Colossae. The letter concerns Onesimus, a slave who had run away from Philemon. Paul urges Philemon to forgive Onesimus and to receive him back as a brother in Christ.

Phillips' commentary on Colossians and Philemon is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand these two important letters. Phillips provides a clear and concise explanation of the text, and he does a good job of interacting with the major interpretive issues. The commentary is also well-organized and easy to use.

In addition to the commentary, Phillips also includes a number of helpful features, such as an introduction to each letter, a bibliography, and an index. These features make the commentary even more valuable for students and scholars.

Overall, Phillips' commentary on Colossians and Philemon is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand these two important letters. It is a well-written and informative commentary that is sure to be helpful to both students and scholars.