Customer Reviews

The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (New International Commentary on the New Testament)

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As a practicing pastor who tries to develop sermons from the Greek text, I've been working through Ephesians. When I started my series a couple pastor friends recommended Stott's commentary on Ephesians, which I purchased. I also picked up about four or five other commentaries including this one. Then I've borrowed about a dozen more commentaries. As I have worked through the text (I'm now in chapter 5) I've found that Bruce is more accurate in his handling of the Greek text than Peter O'Brien or John Stott. One case is Ephesians 2:1 where Bruce correctly identifies trespasses and sins as synonyms. Stott & O'Brien come up with various theories which sound good but don't hold water with the lexical entries or scholars I've been interacting with online. I've found this repeated again in Ephesians 4:22-24 where Bruce identifies aorist infinitives not as past tense verbs, but as verbs that tilt towards imperatives (as most translators agree). However, Stott unconvincingly argues that these aorist infinitives must be past tense, even though he is flying in the face of Greek grammars on aorist tense and most biblical translators.

For these reasons I've learned to turn to Bruce first before I check my other commentaries. And if I don't have time to read several versions I tend to go to this one first.

I guess I would recommend preaching pastors/teachers to use Bruce to make sure that any great sounding phrases or things that might preach well from other commentators are really accurate.

If Bruce has a drawback it is in the very area that I love Stott for the most. Bruce doesn't always come up with great sounding phrases that would preach well. Stott does that all through his commentary. So I guess at least for Ephesians, I would use Stott for application and Bruce for exegesis.

There are a few times where Bruce doesn't give a lot of detail. My assumption is that there's not much worth commenting on in the scope of theories out there. Having said that, I can't imagine studying Ephesians in depth without Bruce. It's fantastic. Get a copy if you can! For a minister's library,
it might be the best commentary out there on Ephesians.

In these admirable but relatively brief commentaries on Colossians and Ephesians (each is 190 pages or so) the late, great F.F. Bruce manages to say a great deal. Verse by verse, with discernment and economy of words, he weaves a web of exposition and theology. Brevity is achieved by applying in general what he writes specifically in connection with Eph. 3:18, that "it would be pointless to examine all the interpretations that have been offered." He does not dwell much on critical questions, either; but with a mature understanding of the texts Bruce has focused his attention on expounding their essential meaning. Satisfactory detail is provided by the footnotes, which treat textual issues, Greek words and phrases, the (often divergent) viewpoints of other scholars, and give Biblical and bibliographic references. The introduction to the commentary on Colossians includes good background information on the "Colossian heresy." One notable feature of the main text is Bruce's drawing parallels throughout to the other writings of Paul; it is remarkable how often he finds occasion to refer to Romans, for example (specially in the case of Ephesians). As he rightly points out (p. 326), "Paul is his own best interpreter." While many scholars doubt that Paul was the author of Ephesians and, to a lesser degree, of Colossians, Bruce's cited parallels of thought and language leave little doubt that these letters are thoroughly Pauline, whoever the actual author(s) may have been if not Paul himself. There are recognizable similarities between Colossians and Ephesians, but which one depends on the other and to what extent is not clear and has been the subject of much debate. Having commentaries on them in one volume, by one author, with one exegetical approach makes the comparison of parallel verses/expressions/thoughts convenient and instructive, even if it does not resolve the debate. That commentary on the short letter to Philemon is included too is a plus, not least because of the letter's association with Colossians at more than one point.

Since I started seminary, I've enjoyed F.F. Bruce's commentaries. Having started a study of the letter to the Colossians, I've consulted this commentary extensively. His insight and text critical footnotes help the reader to get a better grasp of the content and meaning of this letter. Highly recommended.

F.F. Bruce's commentary on the epistles to Colossians, Philemon, and Ephesians in the New International Commentary series is a valuable asset to any student of biblical theology, pastor, or layman. The late author's own admission was to study and write so that he should gain a better understanding of "what is involved in the interpretation of Colossians." He felt a great value in the inclusion of Philemon due to its close connection with the history of Colossians and also included a fresh commentary on Ephesians due to its theological connection with Colossians. Of the 442 pages, 188 are devoted to the book of Colossians (36 to introductory issues). The next 37 pages explain the text of Philemon (14 on introductory matters). The Ephesians commentary comprises 189 pages (21 for book introduction). The final 25 pages are subject and scripture indices.

Each commentary is a superb example of Bruce's classic writing ability. Each sentence and paragraph is used to clearly convey specific points. The text is thoroughly documented, but quotations are concise. Fine details of the text are addressed along with broader themes of the passage or book at hand. Bruce's ability to explain the nuances of the Greek language (terms, declensions, and uses) significantly aids the reader in the interpretation of the books. The nature of the work is scholarly and does deal with the Greek language and complex details of the text. The purchaser should be aware that an attentive layman (one without formal seminary or Greek instruction) will understand and find about 75-80% of the work applicable for use in personal or didactic study. Greek words are not transliterated and a basic understanding of current theological dialogue is anticipated by the author. For this reason, I would recommend that the average layman utilize The Expositor's Bible Commentary 5-Volume New Testament Set: Vols. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 (Expositor's Bible Commentary, The) on Colossians in order to receive the greatest value from their investment; however, for the scholar, pastor, or teacher who has a basic grasp of the Greek language and theological discourse, few commentaries on Ephesians or Colossians can rival Bruce's work.

The Colossians commentary has one of the most extensive introductions available regarding the geography, history, and ethnic backgrounds of the Lycus valley and its inhabitants. The introduction, as all good Colossians commentaries do, contains the author's explanation of the Colossian heresy against which Paul was writing. Bruce presents an impressive array of historical interpretations of the heresy and seems to tentatively accept that the heresy in view was some form of Jewish merkabah mysticism. His understandable caution to firmly promote this view seems prefaced by some of the embarrassing and erroneous views Bruce reviews throughout the section. The introduction also includes a brief overview of the content and themes of the book, critical issues, and a suggested outline of the book. Bruce presents arguments for the traditional conservative approach to the authorship and ably defends against the concept that the style or vocabulary of the book is somehow not Pauline. Bruce does posit the possibility that Timothy was some sort of co-author (30, 41), but does not explain the nature of such a relationship. The author's support of the co-authorship view seems to be an unnecessary equivocation on the matter of Pauline style in the book due to Bruce's abundant proofs to the contrary.

The exposition of the text of Colossians is invaluable. For example, Bruce's spends several pages (120-122) discussing the nature of the word embateuo (KJV - "intruding into," ESV - "going into detail about") in 2:18. Bruce describes the word as originating from the initiation ceremony of Greek temple worship in the area. He points out that "it does not denote the initiation itself but the next stage, entering the sacred area in order to see the mysteries" (121). The writer offers excellent historical context to this, one of the most obscure verses in the New Testament. He goes on to make insightful statements regarding the false teachers' commands in 2:21 and clearly presents the "ethical catchwords" that occur throughout chapters three and four. Bruce's summary of the ethical commands in general is beautiful and concise: "be (in actual practice) what you now are (by a divine act)" (140). Throughout the text, the author brings out subtle emphases such as athletic and military metaphors. Bruce gives fair treatment of both interpretational difficulties and textual variants, often presenting the evidence and then allowing the student to make the best choice.

The introduction to Ephesians is as conservative, if not more so, than that of Colossians. Bruce asserts Pauline authorship immediately (229) and argues that the letter is an "encyclical" letter to the churches of Asia minor (230), holding that the phrase "at Ephesus" in the first verse is "not part of the original wording" (250). The author also provides the reader with one of the best essays on the doctrine of the church in the book of Ephesians (237-240).

The commentary on the text of Ephesians is certainly excellent. He avoids the trap of attempting to create artificial distinctions between synonyms (e.g. 259). The exposition of the opening prayer is masterful along with the explanations of the berakhah (252) and the concept of the "Beloved One" (258). Time and time again, Bruce presents and analyzes interpretational difficulties. For example, in 1:13, the writer presents the two views of and defends the use of the subjective genitive to describe the "Holy Spirit of promise" (265). He also weighs in on the use and understanding of the term "fullness" in 1:23. Bruce's discussion of the numerous questions associated with the word and its context fills a good portion of three pages (275-277).

The commentary is, without a doubt, an excellent resource for the library of any pastor, teacher, or seminarian who seeks to have a thorough understanding of the text and introductions of the books of Colossians, Philemon, and Ephesians. The work, like any other, is not without faults. The text, in my mind, does not flow in the more readable manner of commentaries such as The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (Pillar New Testament Commentary) by Douglas J. Moo. Also, Bruce's handling of Colossians 2:11-12 seems weak, both in comparison to other commentaries and to his own work throughout the majority of the commentary. Finally, Bruce's equivocation on the sole Pauline authorship to include the "co-authorship" of Timothy is highly suspect. In fact, Moo makes some rather compelling counterpoints in his commentary on Colossians 1:1. Due to these issues, I can't in good conscience give the commentary a full 5 stars; however, outside of these relatively few issues, the commentary is indeed an important contribution to the scholarly study of Colossians, Philemon, and Ephesians. No doubt, F.F. Bruce not only, as he intended, learned the inner-workings of the interpretation of the books, but, thankfully, shares them with his readers.

This commentary is classic F.F. Bruce. Using his personal translation Professor Bruce delivers a sound analysis of the text with a conservative interpretation and balanced application. The commentary is suitable for serious Bible study by while maintaining a tone and tenor which can be appreciated by a more casual student. The contextual notes (historical, geo-political, and theological) yield thorough understanding of the times and issues with which the apostle deals.

Bruce is not as in depth nor as exegetical as O'Brien and Moo but he is still very helpful. He is so good at stating complex truth in a simple, contextually consistent manner.

The late FF Bruce has always been a thoughtful NT scholar. He is so thorough, and this volume reflects such. He has combined this scholarship of the NT world, his awareness of the relevant heavy hitters on the mentioned epistles, his adeptness of the biblical languages, and a pastoral flavor to produce a wonderful commentary.

Surely there will be someone else writing about this book, so I'm going try to help you in another way.

When you start reading biblical commentaries you will need to be aware that the thoughts expressed by the author deal with facts and speculations that should of happened. You can NEVER rely on only one commentary to affirm something about the Bible. You need at least three good commentaries.

Try to read biblical commentaries from different confessions of faith (e.g., Calvinism vs. Arminianism; Pentecostal vs. non-Pentecostal; Catholic vs. Protestant; Egalitarian vs. Complementarian; Amillennialism vs. Premillennialism vs. Postmillennialism; etc). Look for their arguments: What do they agree or disagree on? Which of them is closest to the biblical text? It's not a sin to read commentaries written from other points of view. You will notice that what is fact or solid argument will be seen over and over on different commentaries, so you will start learning what is speculation and what is not.

As Haddon W. Robinson said in his book, Biblical Preaching, (second edition, page 22), "In approaching a passage, we must be willing to reexamine our doctrinal convictions and to reject the judgments of our most respected teachers."

Remember, a commentary is not the biblical text. Do not replace the authority of the Bible with a commentary. The same apply for Study Bibles. The study notes there are not written by "apostles and prophets," so never confuse the "gospel" with the teacher or preacher. Learn to separate it.

Commentaries are important because nobody can get a poem from one language and translate it with the same structure to another language. This simply does not exist. Words, phrases, and sentences are rooted in a specific time, culture and custom. About Bibles, the best way is to check different translations, but be cautious about a very loose translation.

For you to appreciate any biblical commentary you need to know what level of reading you are. I'm going call them beginner, intermediate and advanced. I recommend the following biblical commentaries that you can start from. All of them have both Old Testament and New Testament. (If you're thinking of buying the whole set, look for the CD edition; it's cheaper and you can take it with you where you go.)

Beginner - NIV Application Commentary (NIVAC) by Zondervan.
(or) The Bible Speaks Today Series (BST) by IVP (This is a growing series and not yet complete.)

Intermediate - New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT) and New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT) by Eerdmans

Advanced - Word Biblical Commentary (WBC) by Thomas Nelson

These are basic commentaries on their own level, but there are a lot of commentaries today, so don't forget to look for more information. Maybe you can get information from one of these: (1) Commentary and Reference Survey: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical and Theological Resources by John Glynn, (2) New Testament Commentary Survey by D. A. Carson, (3) Old Testament Commentary Survey by Tremper Longman.

There are good and expensive commentaries such as the Anchor Bible (AB); International Critical Commentary (ICC) or Hermeneia (HERM). [Do not forget of Calvin and Luther].

I don't know about catholic commentaries, but you can check reviews on "Sacra Pagina" and "Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture."

Other than those mentioned above (NIVAC; BST; NICNT; WBC; AB; ICC; HERM) you can also check: Expositor Bible Commentary (EBC); New American Commentary (NAC); Pillar New Testament Commentary (PNTC); New International Greek Testament Commentary (NIGTC); Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (BECNT); and others.

Another thing, it can be a very good commentary, but it does not mean that you will agree with everything in it. Remember, "new" does not mean it's updated, and "updated" does not mean it's better.

Purpose - You can read a book to get information, even if you are not interested in a deep study of the biblical text. In this case it's better to start reading something from your own confession of faith and always on your level of reading. If after some time you become interested in more, go check other commentaries, but please, do not skip "How To Read A Book" by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren.

Responsibility - It is your responsibility study the biblical text before checking a commentary. Sometimes this is not an easy task so I'm giving you some other references that you can check at the end of this review. If I had read a review like this before, I would know how to prevent some mistakes.

Do not let you knowledge kill your faith! - "For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith." Hebrews 4:2 NIV - (Read also 1 Corinthians 1:21-24; 2:13-14; 3:18-23; Jude 1:3).

I can't leave without suggesting some other tools to help you: (1) How To Read A Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren; (2) Hermeneutics: Principles and Processes of Biblical Interpretation by Henry Virkler and Karelynne Ayayo; (3) New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors by Gordon Fee; and (4) Old Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors by Douglas Stuart. [Although book #3 and 4 deals with Biblical languages (Greek and Hebrew), you can learn a lot from them even if you do not know the languages]. (5) "Basics of Biblical Greek" Grammar by William D. Mounce [after you start reading it maybe you can add "Biblical Greek Survival Kit" and "Sing and Learn New Testament Greek" audio CD by Kenneth Berding]; (6) "English Grammar in Use" by Raymond Murphy (Third Edition with Cd-Rom). (7) Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History: Complete and Unabridged. - All of these will help you to understand HOW a good commentary must be written. Good Luck!