Editor's Preface
Author's Preface
Introduction to abbreviations

introduction

I.
The Author Problem: The Logic from the Known to the Unknown

A.
Paul's authority
B.
Christology
C.
Ecclesiology
D.
eschatology
E.
Other topics that do not appear
F.
Colossians and Ephesians
G.
Philemon

II.
Opponents and Background: Halachic Mystics of Colossae

A.
methodology
B.
opponents

III.
Date of writing and imprisonment

A.
Various opinions
B.
argument

IV.
Paul's theology in Colossians

A.
Pauline Theology: What Scholars Are Saying
B.
Paul's Theology in Colossians: A Brief Overview

V.
Structure of Colossians

Text and notes

I.
Introduction (1:1-2:5)

A.
Greetings (1:1-2)
B.
Gratitude (1:3-8)
C.
Intercessory Prayer (1:9-23)
D.
An Authoritative Biographical Disclosure (1:24-2:5)

II.
Correcting Doctrine (2:6-3:4)

A.
Essential Exhortation (2:6-7)
B.
Correcting False Religion (2:8-19)
C.
Exhortation on true religion (2:20-3:4)

III.
Practical Advice (3:5-4:6)

A.
The Christian Life: The Old and the New (3:5-17)
B.
The Christian Life: Family Rules (3:18-4:1)
C.
The Christian Life: Teachings on the Church (4:2-6)

IV.
Conclusion (4:7-18)

A.
Messengers (4:7-9)
B.
Greetings (4:10-15)
C.
Instructions (4:16-17)
D.
Paul's signature (4:18)

References

[Series Introduction]

The NICNT series is a series of commentaries written since the late 1940s by New Testament scholars from various countries. It has been recognized by pastors, seminarians, and scholars as an authentic commentary that faithfully displays biblical scholarship within the framework of the evangelical Protestant tradition.
This commentary series reflects a thorough study of the Greek text, but the introductions and commentaries of the commentaries minimize Greek references and focus on explaining the important themes that appear in the biblical text.
Ned Stonehouse (Westminster Theological Seminary), a prominent New Testament scholar, and F.
The NICNT series, written under the editorial direction of F. Bruce (University of Manchester), Gordon Fee (Regent's College), and now Joel Green (Fuller Theological Seminary), has been revised or replaced as needed to provide a fresh commentary that is well-versed in contemporary scholarship.
This series, which focuses on rhetoric, historical context, theological significance, and application to illuminate the meaning of the biblical text, will guide readers to an easily understandable understanding of the text.

[From the author's preface]

When I began teaching Greek Bible exegesis to seminary students in the early 1980s, one of the first books I looked at was Paul's letter to the Colossians.
Just as the first wound is the deepest, my first commentary class left the deepest impression on me.
I taught Colossians almost every year for the next ten years or so until I took a position in an undergraduate program where Colossians was not offered.
When I received John Pott's invitation to write a commentary on Colossians (along with a separate commentary on Philemon), I was more than excited by the offer.
Joel Green's skills as an editor are legendary and well deserved.
His comments on the first draft led to a thorough revision of this annotation, which was improved in many ways.
The academic research process is filled with deep memories, and one of those memories was the trip I took with Joel throughout the entire process.
Joel assigned his PhD students to work on ensuring that the new guidelines and footnotes for the series were consistent.
Trevor Thompson's excellent editing brings it all together.

As far as commentary on this letter is concerned, no book can be more highly recommended than Murray Harris's commentary on Colossians and Philemon for its incomparably close reading of Paul's grammar and syntax.
As a professor of Greek Bible exegesis, I have carefully reviewed and benefited greatly from the commentaries of Charles Moul and Eduard Roget.
As I wrote this commentary, I was constantly aware that three professors had published commentaries on Colossians (Harris, Dunn, and Mu), and that two of my “successors” at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Pao and Campbell) had also published commentaries.
The fact that six commentaries on Colossians now come from the same institution shows the place this letter occupies in the exegetical curriculum.