Colossians Philippians 1 2 Thessalonians 1 2 Timothy Titus Philemon

Christianity Today Book of the Year For the early church fathers, certain passages in the shorter letters of St. Paul proved particularly important in doctrinal disputes and practical church matters. Pivotal in controversies with the Arians and the Gnostics, the most commented-on christological text in these letters was Colossians 1:15-20, where Jesus is declared "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." The fathers found ample support scattered throughout the Pastorals for the divinity of the Son and the Spirit and for the full union of humanity and divinity in the "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). These commentators also looked to the Pastorals for important teaching on ethics and church life. Chief among the Eastern commentators and widely excerpted throughout this volume is John Chrysostom, praised for his pastoral insight. Other Greek commentators 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. Western commentators include Augustine, Ambrosiaster, Pelagius, Jerome, Hippolytus, Tertullian, Novatian, Cyprian of Carthage, Hilary of Poitiers, and Ambrose. 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 Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture 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.

Written in clear, readable style, this 24-volume set is designed to give a thorough and easily understood exposition of each book of the Bible.

The Cornerstone Biblical Commentary provides students, pastors, and laypeople with up-to-date, evangelical scholarship on the Old and New Testaments. It's designed to equip pastors and Christian leaders with exegetical and theological knowledge to better understand and apply God's Word by presenting the message of each passage as well as an overview of other issues surrounding the text. AUTHOR BACKGROUND Harold W. Hoehner, Ph.D. is Professor of New Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary and is well known for his work on biblical chronology in the first century. He is also the author of a commentary on Ephesians in the Baker Exegetical Commentary series. Philip W. Comfort, D. Litt. et Phil., is senior editor of Bible reference at Tyndale House Publishers and adjunct professor of Religion at Coastal Carolina University. His works include Early Manuscripts & Modern Translations of the New Testament, The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts, and Encountering the Manuscripts. He has authored two commentaries on John and three volumes of poetry. He serves as the coordinating New Testament editor for the New Living Translation, and he is the General Editor for the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary series. Peter Davids, Ph.D. is a Professor of Biblical Theology at Stephen's University. He served as a missionary educator in Europe, training Christian leaders in the German-speaking world, and has written commentaries on James and 1 Peter. He is also co-editor (with Ralph Martin) of The Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Development.

"Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep." (1 Thess 4:14). The epistles of the New Testament provide unparalleled insight into the realities of the life of the early church, guidance for those called to lead the church, and comfort in the face of pressing theological questions. Among those letters are 1 and 2 Thessalonians, which address questions about the expected return of Christ, the pastoral epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, written to two of Paul's coworkers who were overseeing early churches, and Philemon, which concerns the relationship between a slave and his master. The Protestant Reformers of the sixteenth century also found wisdom and guidance in these letters. For example, Martin Luther reminded the Christians of his day that Paul had encouraged believers "not to sorrow over the dead as others who have no hope, but to comfort each other with God's Word as having a certain hope of life and of the resurrection of the dead." In this volume of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture, Lee Gatiss and Bradley Green guide readers through a diversity of early modern commentary on the epistles of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Readers will hear from familiar voices and discover lesser-known figures from a variety of theological traditions, including Lutherans, Reformed, Radicals, Anglicans, and Roman Catholics. Drawing upon a variety of resources—including commentaries, sermons, treatises, and confessions—much of which appears here for the first time in English, this volume provides resources for contemporary preachers, enables scholars to better understand the depth and breadth of Reformation commentary, and seeks to bring guidance and comfort in the midst of today's challenges.

The Westminster Dictionary of New Testament and Early Christian Literature and Rhetoric details the variety of literary and rhetorical forms found in the New Testament and in the literature of the early Christian church. This authoritative reference source is a treasury for understanding the methods employed by New Testament and early Christian writers. Aune's extensive study will be of immense value to scholars and all those interested in the ways literary and rhetorical forms were used and how they functioned in the early Christian world. This unique and encyclopedic study will serve generations of scholars and students by illuminating the ways words shaped the consciousness of those who encountered Christian teachings.