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Colossians and Philemon: An Introduction and Commentary is unavailable, but you can change that!

Colossians presents a picture of Christ who is “the firstborn over all creation” and has disarmed and triumphed over the powers and authorities. The letter also appeals to its readers to seek humble maturity, a maturity not possible apart from the person and work of Jesus Christ. N. T Wright’s stated goal is “to give the text back to the reader uncluttered by a mass of glosses.” In Philemon, Paul...

‘making the word of God fully known’, as RSV translates. ‘The word of God’ is, for Paul, a power let loose in the world, embodied in the true gospel message (see 1:6). It must be allowed to have its full effect, to be ‘fulfilled’ in that sense. 26–27. This is confirmed by Paul’s further definition of ‘the word of God’ as the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations but is now disclosed to the saints … (namely) Christ in you, the hope of glory. Here again we have Jewish ideas rethought
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