Ephesians

“Frank Thielman’s commentary on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians is exemplary for pastors who seek solid information about the meaning of this letter to the Christians in western Asia Minor, for missionaries who seek guidance for the contextualization of the truth of the gospel in other cultures, for teachers in churches and professors at seminaries who want to survey older and recent interpretations of the Greek text, and for all who seek a deeper understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The careful historical exegesis, judicious exegetical decisions, and consistent concern to highlight the theology of the text make this an indispensable commentary.”

“Thielman’s Ephesians admirably combines the features that distinguish excellent commentaries on Scripture: breadth of research in both classical and contemporary writings, careful attention to the form and structure of the Greek text, clear writing, and appropriate theological and practical application. This commentary will join Hoehner and O’Brien as the first references on Ephesians to which I turn.”

“Ephesians has been described as both the crown of Paul’s Letters and a Waterloo for commentators. Calvin’s favorite epistle, it joyfully celebrates the grace of God and the love of Christ in all their fullness. Thielman’s commentary plumbs its depths and is a model of informed and lucid interpretation. Like its subject, it is rich and edifying and repays careful reading.”

“Thielman manages an extraordinary feat: a commentary that is thorough, historically astute, and written in engaging, conversational prose. Rarely does one come away from a commentary thinking that it was a delight to read, but Thielman pulls it off brilliantly. I do not concur with all of Thielman’s conclusions, but I enthusiastically recommend his detailed work to pastors, students, and laity alike.”

“Thielman’s Ephesians commentary is an excellent example of how a high regard for the authority of Scripture can be combined with thorough historical, linguistic, scholarly work. Thielman takes seriously all the major challenges critical scholarship has marshaled in regard to the authorship and date of Ephesians, yet he argues convincingly that Paul has written this epistle to the Christians in Ephesus during his imprisonment in Rome. The strength of the commentary lies in the author’s close attention to the text’s structure, Greek style, and theological content. Teachers and students of the New Testament, as well as pastors and interested lay readers, will greatly benefit from this fine example of evangelical scholarship.”