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This series sets out to provide a programmatic survey of the individual writings of the New Testament. It aims to remedy the deficiency of available published material which concen trates on the New Testament writers' theological concerns. New Testament Specialists here write at greater length than is usually possible in the introductions to commentaries or as part of other New Testament theologies, and explore the theological themes and issues of their chosen books without being tied to a commentary format, or to a thematic structure provided from elsewhere. When complete, the series will cover all the New Testament writings, and will thus provide an attractive, and timely, range of texts around which courses can be developed. This volume investigates the respective theologies of the Letters to the Colossians and the Ephesians, and in so doing provides an accessible introduction to the themes and significance of these New Testament books. A. J. M. Wedderburn examines the background to Colossians and the situation fo it's readers, as well as the implications which these have for interpreting the theology and Christology of the letter. Andrew T. Lincoln examines in turn the authorship of Ephesians, and explains the letters strategy of persuasion and the key elements of its reaching about the new identity of the Christian believer. The similarities and differences between the thought of Ephesians and that of Paul are thereby set out clearley. Both sections of the book reflect on the relevance of these letters for today.
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