New Testament Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon

When William Hendriksen died in 1982 he had established a reputation as an outstanding biblical commentator. His New Testament Commentary had become undoubtedly the foremost conservative and reformed commentary of the twentieth century. A master linguist, a painstaking scholar, an erudite theologian with wide experience in pastoral ministry and seminary teaching, Dr Hendriksen possessed those talents essential for undertaking a work such as this.

Each commentary is so arranged that it serves the needs and answers the questions of the advanced scholar, while at the same time satisfying the demands of the pastor and the layman. There are several distinctive features which may be noted. A thorough introduction deals with the date, authorship and background of the biblical book, as well as suggesting reasons for its study. An outline of the whole book shows its organic structure. Moreover, each section is preceded by the author’s own translation of the Greek text, which reproduces the true flavour of the original in idiomatic, modern English. After the commentary, which deals with the scriptural text on a verse-by-verse basis, a synthesis brings into focus and summarizes the central ideas. Points of grammar essential to a clear interpretation, and other specialised problems are dealt with separately to ensure full and adequate treatment without impeding the free flow of the commentary.

The commentary on Philippians which first appeared in the USA in 1962 and was published in 1963 in the Trust’s Geneva Series of Commentaries is now joined in this one volume edition by the commentaries on Colossians and Philemon , published in 1964 in the USA and then in 1971 in the United Kingdom.