Colossians and Philemon

Here you have a balanced, insightful, reliable and innovative commentary on two of Paul’s letters. Balanced, for it avoids extreme views and unnecessary technicalities and offers a convincing exegesis of the text in straightforward English. Insightful, because it contains many insights into the text that are unlikely to occur to the Western reader but will readily resonate with readers who have an Asian background. Reliable, for while it interacts with alternative understandings of the text, it always represents “informed orthodoxy.” Innovative, with its splendid special studies that are particularly relevant to Asian teachers and pastors – such as “Apostles and Apostolic Succession” and “Slavery: Then and Now.” Warmly and highly recommended.

Murray J. Harris, PhD
Professor Emeritus of New Testament Exegesis and Theology,
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois, USA

Two eminent scholars with almost a century of collective teaching expertise have successfully excavated Paul’s efforts to build bridges between “truth and grace,” “hope of the future and a victorious present” as nascent Christians of the Lycus valley were constrained by “faith in the pre-eminence of Christ” and the fear of their religious past. The sagely duo invest their first-hand knowledge of Asian philosophies and cultures to make the text speak to the context: Anatolia is bridged with Asia! This is a treasure of sagacious reflections, a must-read for pastors, theological educators and anyone who cares to hear God speak to Asians today through the gospel.

Idicheria Ninan, PhD
Professor of New Testament,
South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore, India