Exhibiting his usual meticulous approach to exegesis, Dr. Douglas Moo cracks open these dense epistles, providing a plethora of insights for pastors and scholars. In an erudite yet accessible fashion, he draws out the theological implications, gives full consideration as to why and when the works were written, and illuminates the meaning for 21st-century readers.

This volume completes Ben Witherington's own contributions to the Eerdmans socio-rhetorical series of commentaries on the New Testament. Besides the usual features of this series, Witherington offers an innovative way of looking at Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon as inter-related documents written at different levels of moral discourse. Colossians is first order moral discourse (the opening gambit), Ephesians is second order moral discourse (what one says next after the opening salvo to the same audience), and Philemon is third order moral discourse (what one says to a personal friend or intimate). Witherington successfully analyzes these documents as examples of Asiatic rhetoric, explaining the difference in style from earlier Pauline documents. He further shows that Paul is deliberately engaging in the transformation of existing social institutions.

Did Paul write Colossians? Was it forged from another source? Does it belong in the canon if not written by Paul? What is the Coslossian Heresy? Was the command for wives to obey and husbands to love just for that culture? Or is it for all believers? All of these questions are masterfully answered in this commentary. The truths are also applied to our culture today.

The NIV Application Commentary Series helps bring both halves of the interpretive task together. This unique, award-winning series shows readers how to bring an ancient message into our postmodern context. It explains not only what the Bible meant but also how it speaks powerfully today.