Fullness and freedom--two aspects of Christian life that we all want to share. Paul wrote about them at length (and depth) in his letter to the Christians at Colossae, where certain new teachers were proclaiming that "mere Christianity" is not enough. There is, they suggested, a fuller experience, a greater liberation, than they had so far enjoyed. But Paul was adamant: all God's fullness is in Christ alone, and only through his complete work are we set free. These are the great objective truths of the faith that Dick Lucas highlights in his exposition, enabling us to see both the riches that are ours in Christ and the irrelevance--even blasphemy--of all would-be improvements on what God has done.
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Lucas was rector of St. Helen's Bishopsgate, London.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is day two of being incapacitated from sickness. To be frank, it's hard to write; my mind is cloudy from all the drugs and Vicks steam floating through the air. However, I am here to write, and write I shall.
I recently completed the IVP/BST commentary on Colossians and Philemon entitled, The Message of Colossians & Philemon written by R.C. Lucas. Published originally in 1980 under the title Fullness & Freedom, this commentary is short at just under 200 hundred pages.
Paul had never visited the Colossian church. He wrote the Letter of Colossians while in prison after receiving a report from Epaphras that the young church was being threatened by some visitor's teachings. The visitors claimed Christ's work on the cross to be the foundation, but true spiritual completeness would come, first of all, in this lifetime in the form of some kind of experience and second of all would come through following these visitor's teachings (i.e., self abasement, diets, fasting & festivals). Paul used this letter to exhort the church to see Christ's work on the cross as finished and once one is in him, they have reached this lifetime's pinnacle; they already have Christ's fullness.
The commentator's notes on Philemon are short, only about 10 pages long, but sheds some light on the early church's take on slavery and hierarchical relationship. However, for much fuller understanding of Philemon and the things surrounding this letter, I highly recommend Slave of Christ, written by Murray J. Harris, as part of the NSBT series.
This commentary is by no means a thorough exegesis. Lucas generally will take four or five verses at a time, then over the next chapter break them apart in a non-numerical order. While, understanding the meanings of each verse becomes difficult when the commentator discusses the scripture in this way, it's much easier to grasp general themes and ideas. You won't walk away from this commentary with a comprehensive understanding of the scripture; you will however find it easier to understand the scripture when you read it yourself, until later when perhaps you step into a more detailed study.
All in all, I recommend this as a companion, but don't stop here. Don't stop anywhere, really.
I recently completed the IVP/BST commentary on Colossians and Philemon entitled, The Message of Colossians & Philemon written by R.C. Lucas. Published originally in 1980 under the title Fullness & Freedom, this commentary is short at just under 200 hundred pages.
Paul had never visited the Colossian church. He wrote the Letter of Colossians while in prison after receiving a report from Epaphras that the young church was being threatened by some visitor's teachings. The visitors claimed Christ's work on the cross to be the foundation, but true spiritual completeness would come, first of all, in this lifetime in the form of some kind of experience and second of all would come through following these visitor's teachings (i.e., self abasement, diets, fasting & festivals). Paul used this letter to exhort the church to see Christ's work on the cross as finished and once one is in him, they have reached this lifetime's pinnacle; they already have Christ's fullness.
The commentator's notes on Philemon are short, only about 10 pages long, but sheds some light on the early church's take on slavery and hierarchical relationship. However, for much fuller understanding of Philemon and the things surrounding this letter, I highly recommend Slave of Christ, written by Murray J. Harris, as part of the NSBT series.
This commentary is by no means a thorough exegesis. Lucas generally will take four or five verses at a time, then over the next chapter break them apart in a non-numerical order. While, understanding the meanings of each verse becomes difficult when the commentator discusses the scripture in this way, it's much easier to grasp general themes and ideas. You won't walk away from this commentary with a comprehensive understanding of the scripture; you will however find it easier to understand the scripture when you read it yourself, until later when perhaps you step into a more detailed study.
All in all, I recommend this as a companion, but don't stop here. Don't stop anywhere, really.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have some mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the quality of the commentary on the text is quite good. It is, of course, British, and now 32 years old (the fact that it is British means the discussion of slavery in Philemon will be different than from an American perspective). But the comments are still worthwhile, and occasionally quite insightful. This would make an excellent reading commentary for individual use or for help in leading a bible study.
On the other hand, I bought this book primarily for the Philemon notes, and I was a bit disappointed. (I suppose I should have read the other reviews!) The notes on Philemon are only eight pages long. There is some good insight in those eight pages, but it is still hard to avoid feeling a bit shortchanged. No doubt Lucas could have delivered significantly more insight that he did. The Philemon notes have a nice devotional quality to them, but if you are looking for help on the issues of the book, I would look elsewhere.
On the other hand, I bought this book primarily for the Philemon notes, and I was a bit disappointed. (I suppose I should have read the other reviews!) The notes on Philemon are only eight pages long. There is some good insight in those eight pages, but it is still hard to avoid feeling a bit shortchanged. No doubt Lucas could have delivered significantly more insight that he did. The Philemon notes have a nice devotional quality to them, but if you are looking for help on the issues of the book, I would look elsewhere.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a fantastic little commentary packed with great teaching and solid biblical thought. I found that the writers did a pretty descent job of applying it to today's culture.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
A customary greeting introduces us to one of Paul's most powerful and attractive letters, written from prison to a young church in the province of Asia. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
apostolic teaching Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Testament, Christ Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus, Old Testament, Holy Spirit, Colossian Christians, Christ Lord, God the Father, Lord Christ, Roman Catholic New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
A customary greeting introduces us to one of Paul's most powerful and attractive letters, written from prison to a young church in the province of Asia. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
apostolic teaching Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Testament, Christ Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus, Old Testament, Holy Spirit, Colossian Christians, Christ Lord, God the Father, Lord Christ, Roman Catholic New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 25
books:
See all 25 books this book cites
2
books
cite this book:
- The Cross in the New Testament by Mr. Leon Morris on page 57, and page 110
- The Bible Speaks Today (48 Volume Set) by David Atkinson in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
- Message of Jeremiah (Bible Speaks Today) by Derek Kidner in Front Matter
- Colossians and Philemon (LifeChange) by The Navigators in Front Matter
- The Message of James by Alec MOTYER in Front Matter
See all 25 books this book cites
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