The New Testament Library Series: Colossians

by Jerry L. Sumney

Publisher:

Westminster John Knox

, 2008

Overview

The letter to the Colossians offers great insight into the faith, life, and problems of the early Christian church. Understanding this letter to be one of Paul’s prison epistles but aware of the differences between this and his other writings, Jerry Sumney shows how the church struggled with expressing its new faith in the diverse settings of the Greco-Roman world. Paying special attention to the ways of forgiveness and salvation through the power of Christ, this fine commentary shows Colossians’ expansive Christology and expectant eschatology.

Key Features

• Shows the struggles of the early church
• Explores the Christology and eschatology of Colossians
• Opens fresh perspectives on Pauline studies

Contents

Top Highlights

“While no single assertion, theological affirmation, or perspective in Colossians is impossible for Paul, the cumulative effect of the shifts in meaning and emphasis in so many areas suggests that an associate penned this letter soon after Paul’s death. The interpretation of Paul’s sufferings in Colossians tips the balance slightly in favor of this conclusion.” (Page 8)

“Pseudonymity does nothing to change that.⁶ Indeed, recognizing that a letter is pseudonymous clarifies the context that gave rise to it and thus aids us in understanding it. This, in turn, may help us make more faithful use of the epistle in the church.” (Pages 8–9)

“eikōn identifies Christ as God’s means of revelation and the representation of God in the world” (Page 64)

“but the language of ‘image’ by itself does not convey that meaning in the ways it has often been claimed.” (Page 64)

“The style and vocabulary of Colossians appear markedly different from the undisputed Pauline Letters” (Pages 1–2)

Product Details

• Title: Colossians: A Commentary
• Author: Jerry L. Sumney
• Series: The New Testament Library
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox
• Print Publication Date: 2008
• Logos Release Date: 2015
• Pages: 336
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. Colossians › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9780664221423, 9780664239817, 0664221424, 0664239811
• Resource ID: LLS:NTL72COL
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T20:29:22Z

About Jerry L. Sumney

Jerry L. Sumney was born in Indiana and grew up in central Florida. He taught in the religion department at Ferrum College from 1986-1997. Mr. Sumney is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and is past president for the Southeastern Region of the Society. At the national level, he also served as the chair of the steering committee for the Theology of the Disputed Paulines Group from 1996-2001 and currently serves as the chair of the steering committee for the Disputed Paulines Consultation. He is also currently chair for the Pauline Epistles and Literature Section of the international meeting of the SBL. He has written four books: Identifying Paul’s Opponents; Servants of Satan, False Brothers, and Other Pauline Opponents; Preaching Apocalyptic Texts (co-authored with Larry Paul Jones) and Philippians, A Handbook for Second-Year Greek Students (forthcoming, Hendickson, 2004). He is co-editor of Theology and Ethics in Paul and His Interpreters and Paul and Pathos. He also has written several articles in journals and books. He is currently working on a commentary on Colossians for the New Testament Library series. Mr. Sumney and his wife, Diane, have three daughters: Elizabeth, Victoria, and Margaret.