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Ancient Christian Commentary: Colossians-Philemon

$19.99

About this Series

The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture does what very few of today's students of the Bible could do for themselves. With the aid of computer technology, the vast array of writings from the church fathers--including much that is available only in the ancient languages--have been combed for their comment on Scripture. From these results, scholars with a deep knowledge of the fathers and a heart for the church have hand selected material for each volume, shaping, annotating and introducing it to today's readers. Each portion of commentary has been chosen for its salient insight, its rhetorical power and its faithful representation of the consensual exegesis of the early church.

About this Volume

The Ancient Christian Commentary: Colossians-Philemon covers the books of Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. It can also be purchased as part of a money-saving bundle.

While patristic commentary on St. Paul's shorter letters--Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, the Pastorals and Philemon--was not so extensive as that on his longer letters, certain passages in these letters proved particularly important in doctrinal disputes and practical church matters. Pivotal in controversies with the Arians and the Gnostics, the most commented-upon christological text amid these letters was Colossians 1:15-20, where Jesus is declared "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation."

In other texts scattered throughout the Pastorals, the fathers found ample support for the divinity of the Son and the Spirit and for the full union of humanity and divinity in the one redeemer, the "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). These early Christian commentators also looked to the Pastorals, where Pauline authorship was assumed, for important ethical and moral teaching, as well as explicit qualifications for choosing church leaders and guidelines for overseeing the work and behavior of widows.

Chief among the Eastern commentators and widely excerpted throughout this volume is John Chrysostom, praised for his pastoral insight and shrewd, generous empathy with the apostle Paul. Other Greek commentators whose works are cited include Theodoret of Cyr, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Severian of Gabala, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Athanasius, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and Gregory of Nyssa.

Among Western commentators Augustine dominates. His work is joined by that of Ambrosiaster, Pelagius, Jerome, Hippolytus, Tertullian, Novatian, Cyprian of Carthage, Hilary of Poitiers and Ambrose, among others. Of particular interest for their ascetical and devotional insight are works from Syrian and Egyptian churches, including Aphrahat, Ephrem the Syrian, Isaac of Nineveh and Philoxenus of Mabbug.

This volume opens up a treasure house of ancient wisdom that allows these faithful witnesses, some appearing here in English translation for the first time, to speak with eloquence and intellectual acumen to the church today.

Features

• 2001 Book of the Year Award from Christianity Today
• Makes accessible early Christian commentary on Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon
• Covers the period from Clement of Rome (second century) to John of Damascus (mid-eighth century)
• Illuminates Scripture in the light of classic and consensual Christian faith
• Informs postcritical Christian reading and exposition of Scripture
• Renders ancient Greek, Latin, Coptic and Syriac writings in lucid English translation
• Draws on the resources and expertise of an international team of scholars from Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions
• Provides biographical sketches and a timeline of ancient Christian sources
• Contains indexes, bibliographies and keys to original language sources
• Excellent resource for preaching and teaching

About the Editor(s)

Peter Gorday (Ph.D., Vanderbilt) is a clinical staff member with the Georgia Association for Pastoral Counseling and priest-associate at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Atlanta. He is also the author of Principles of Patristic Exegesis: Romans 9-11 in Origen, John Chrysostom and Augustine (Edwin Mellen Press).

System Requirements

Installed size (unless otherwise indicated): Approximately 1.125 MB. iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Requires iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running latest version of iOS. Download size: 1.125 MB. Android Requires Android OS 4.4 or later. Download size: 1.125 MB. Windows Phone Requires Windows Phone 7.5 or later. Download size: 1.125 MB. Windows Store Requires Windows 8, 10, 11 or later. Download size: 1.125 MB. Windows Desktop Requires Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 or later. Download size: 940.625 KB. Mac OS Requires macOS 10.13 or later. Download size: 1.125 MB.