Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters : Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (New Testament for Everyone) [Paperback]

Tom Wright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2004 | Series: New Testament for Everyone

Making use of his true scholar's understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, N.T. Wright captures the dauntless power of these letters. They were written by Paul while in prison facing the possibility of imminent death, yet burn with undimmed passion. Paul seeks to help direct the growing faith where his influence might prove crucial, and writes a very personal letter to a slave-owner on behalf of a runaway.

Editorial Reviews

Review

[The For Everyone series] is probably the most exciting thing to have happened in Christian education in Britain for many years.Expository Times --Expository Times

About the Author

N.T. (Tom) Wright is the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England. He is a prolific author and noted New Testament scholar, and was named by Christianity Today in 1999 as one of the world's top 5 new theologians. He has written over thirty books, both at the scholarly level (including Jesus and the Victory of God, The Resurrection of the Son of God, and The Meaning of Jesus) and for a popular audience (including The Meal Jesus Gave Us (WJK) and Who Was Jesus?).

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664227880
• ISBN-13: 978-0664227883
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

N.T. Wright is Bishop of Durham and was formerly Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey and dean of Lichfield Cathedral. He taught New Testament studies for twenty years at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities. Wright's full-scale works The New Testament and the People of God, Jesus and the Victory of God, and The Resurrection of the Son of God are part of a projected six-volume series entitled Christian Origins and the Question of God. Among his many other published works are The Original Jesus, What Saint Paul Really Said and The Climax of the Covenant. He is also coauthor with Marcus Borg of The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions and the volume on Colossians and Philemon in The Tyndale New Testament Commentary series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW, June 10, 2004

By 

D. G. Hollums (Santa Fe, NM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters : Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (New Testament for Everyone) (Paperback)

Tom Wright is amazing. He changed my Theology in Seminary (in a good way as "N.T." Wright and when he came to speak to Asbury) and now he amazes me with this easy to read and even easier to understand commentary set. I have only bought this one book, but will be saving up (as only a new pastor can) for the entire commentary set. Please find this book. Read page 100-104 about the mind of Christ (Philippians 2.5-11) section and realize how changed your life will be after reading this book. Thank you Tom! and God bless everyone who reads this review. (I hope it encourages you to find it in a librabry or book store, read it, and judge it for yourself)

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Everyone Title is for Real, December 20, 2005

By 

DarrenGJohnson "DarrenGJohnson" (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters : Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (New Testament for Everyone) (Paperback)

As a pastor I feel comfortable recommending this commentary and the entire Everyone series to them, because not only are these commentaries excellent scholarly interpretation, but are very readable. N T Wright has the ability to write in a very technical scholarly style or in a manner that everyone can understand and he masterfully demonstrates that fact with the Everyone series.

Wright provides a translation of the entire Epistle that starts each section, then he tells an applicable story that leads into his discussion of the meaning of the text.

The Prison Letters of Epheisans, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon are all covered in this book. Wright is remarkably consistent in his interpretations of the text. You never feel as though he is guessing at an interpretation, but most of his interpretations seem natural and never forced. What was most impressive for me was how he handled Philemon. It is not a very big book, but he shows that it has very big meaning.

If I had to disagree with something it would be his failure to recognize and emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit. I speak as a classical Pentecostal, but there are times when Paul emphasized the Spririt and Wright does very little with this emphasis. He most often uses a lower case "s" for spirit instead of Spirit. I am not sure why he does this and he fails to give an explanation.

Wright does have an excellent glossary of terms at the end of this book and every book in the series. The positive features in this book are well worth the five stars that I have given this book and I overwhelmingly recommend this commentary.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple. Profound. Accessible. Brilliant!, June 10, 2003

By 

Richard J. Vincent "www.theocentric.com" (West Bend, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians & Philemon (New Testament Guides for Everyone) (Paperback)

Tom Wright (the more informal way N. T. Wright addresses himself in his more popular and accessible material) has shown his brilliance once again. He says more in 2 - 3 pages about a major section of Paul's letters than many commentaries say by using dozens of pages. This series is meant to be simple and accessible to the average layman, and yet, because of the author, the insights are profoundly brilliant. I can't think of a better series to use for devotions. Buy any of these -- you will not be disappointed.