SMYTH & HELWYS BIBLE COMMENTARY

COLOSSIANS

NIJAY K. GUPTA

Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc.

6316 Peake Road

Macon, Georgia 31210-3960

1-800-747-3016

© 2013 by Smyth & Helwys Publishing

All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-57312-818-6

Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary: Colossians

Publication Staff

President & CEO

Cecil P. Staton

Publisher & Executive Vice President

Keith Gammons

Book Editor

Leslie Andres

Graphic Designers

Daniel Emerson

Dave Jones

Assistant Editors

Rachel Stancil Greco

Kelley F. Land

Project Editor

R. Scott Nash

Mercer University

Macon, Georgia

Old Testament

General Editor

Samuel E. Balentine

Union Presbyterian Seminary

Richmond, Virginia

Area

Old Testament Editors

Mark E. Biddle

Baptist Theological Seminary

at Richmond, Virginia

Kandy Queen-Sutherland

Stetson University

Deland, Florida

Paul Redditt

Georgetown College

Georgetown, Kentucky

Baptist Seminary of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky

New Testament

General Editor

R. Alan Culpepper

McAfee School of Theology

Mercer University

Atlanta, Georgia

Area

New Testament Editors

R. Scott Nash

Mercer University

Macon, Georgia

Richard B. Vinson

Salem College

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

CONTENTS

author’s preface

series preface

how to use this commentary

introduction to colossians

outline of colossians

Christ the Ruler

Col 1:1–2:3

Fullness in Christ Alone: The Transcendent-Ascetic Philosophy Vain, Christ the Fullness

Col 2:4–23

New Life in Christ: The Quality of New Life in Christ

Col 3:1–17

New Life in Christ: Household Relationships Reoriented under the Lordship of Christ

Col 3:18–4:1

Joyful Cruciformity: Patterns and Models

Col 4:2–18

selective bibliography

index of modern authors

index of scriptures

index of sidebars and illustrations

index of topics

DEDICATION

For Libby

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS COMMENTARY

Books of the Old Testament, Apocrypha, and New Testament are generally abbreviated in the Sidebars, parenthetical references, and notes according to the following system.

The Old Testament

Genesis Gen

Exodus Exod

Leviticus Lev

Numbers Num

Deuteronomy Deut

Joshua Josh

Judges Judg

Ruth Ruth

1-2 Samuel 1-2 Sam

1-2 Kings 1-2 Kgs

1-2 Chronicles 1-2 Chr

Ezra Ezra

Nehemiah Neh

Esther Esth

Job Job

Psalm (Psalms) Ps (Pss)

Proverbs Prov

Ecclesiastes Eccl

or Qoheleth Qoh

Song of Solomon Song

or Song of Songs Song

or Canticles Cant

Isaiah Isa

Jeremiah Jer

Lamentations Lam

Ezekiel Ezek

Daniel Dan

Hosea Hos

Joel Joel

Amos Amos

Obadiah Obad

Jonah Jonah

Micah Mic

Nahum Nah

Habakkuk Hab

Zephaniah Zeph

Haggai Hag

Zechariah Zech

Malachi Mal

The Apocrypha

1-2 Esdras 1-2 Esdr

Tobit Tob

Judith Jdt

Additions to Esther Add Esth

Wisdom of Solomon Wis

Ecclesiasticus or the Wisdom Sir

of Jesus Son of Sirach

Baruch Bar

Epistle (or Letter) of Jeremiah Ep Jer

Prayer of Azariah and the Song Pr Azar

of the Three

Daniel and Susanna Sus

Daniel, Bel, and the Dragon Bel

Prayer of Manasseh Pr Man

1-4 Maccabees 1-4 Macc

The New Testament

Matthew Matt

Mark Mark

Luke Luke

John John

Acts Acts

Romans Rom

1-2 Corinthians 1-2 Cor

Galatians...