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. CORNERSTONE BIBLICAL COMMENTARY By Harold W. Hoehner Philip W. Comfort Peter H. Davids TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS, INC. Copyright © 2008 Harold W. Hoehner All right reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8423-8344-8 Contents Contributors to Volume 16................................viGeneral Editor's Preface.................................viiAbbreviations............................................ixTransliteration and Numbering System.....................xiiiEPHESIANS................................................1PHILIPPIANS..............................................139COLOSSIANS...............................................2271 & 2 THESSALONIANS......................................313PHILEMON.................................................415 Chapter One INTRODUCTION TO Ephesians The letter to the Ephesians has long been a favorite among Christians over the centuries. It contains the leading themes of Pauline literature, and it expresses Paul's motive for his ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. The ideas in Ephesians represent the crown of Paulinism (Dodd 1929:1224-1225) or the "quintessence of Paulinism" (Bruce 1967:303). The book of Ephesians, presenting an exalted view of the church and its relationship to the exalted Christ, contributed richly to the first-century believers' understanding of eternal truths. Its message is just as rich and relevant to today's church. AUTHOR Prior to the last two centuries, Paul's authorship of this letter was not questioned, but much has been written in the past 200 years that casts doubts on his authorship. An examination of this problem will be divided into two parts: The traditional view of Pauline authorship will be stated, and then various arguments used to suggest that Ephesians was written by someone other than Paul will be introduced. The Traditional View of Pauline Authorship. The traditional view of Pauline authorship is based on internal and external evidence. Regarding internal evidence, Ephesians clearly claims to have been written by Paul. In typical Pauline fashion, he opened his letter with the identifier: "Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus" (1:1; cf. 1 Cor 1:1; 2 Cor 1:1; Gal 1:1; Col 1:1). He again mentioned his name in 3:1, which is consistent with his other letters (2 Cor 10:1; Gal 5:2; Col 1:23; 4:18; 1 Thess 2:18; 2 Thess 3:17; Phlm 1:19). Descriptions mentioned in the first person singular (3:1; 4:1) correspond with depictions of Paul from his other letters (Phil 1:13, 17; Col 4:3; Phlm 1:1, 9) and from Acts (Acts 25:14, 27; 28:17; cf. 16:37; 21:33; 24:27; 26:29). Thus, the internal evidence of Paul's claim of authorship of this letter clearly corresponds with other letters written by him. Regarding external evidence, Ephesians has the earliest attestation of any New Testament book. As early as the late first century or very early second century, Clement of Rome (fl. 96) mentions "one God and one Christ and one Spirit," which probably alludes to Ephesians 4:4-6. Furthermore, Clement's prayer that God would "open the eyes of our heart that we might know you [God]" is an allusion to Ephesians 1:17-18, the mention of "the senseless and darkened heart" is an allusion to Ephesians 4:18, and his exhortation to "let each be subject to his neighbor" is reminiscent of Ephesians 5:21. Ignatius (AD 35-107/8), bishop of Antioch, seems t