The Story Behind My Books: Book #3, Colossians Commentary
Smyth & Hewlys Bible Commentary
**New Substack Series**
I am kicking off a new series (inspired by Mike Bird’s Substack series on his previous work): “The Story Behind My Books” (2010-2025). Fifteen years is a good time for a rear-view mirror perspective. The general discussion of a book will be free for everyone, but when I get into what I think I might have done wrong or what I might change now, I provide for paid subscribers only. I don’t tend to dwell on regrets, but I will have something to say for most books.
Book #3: Colossians
After finishing my doctoral monograph (Worship That Makes Sense to Paul) and publishing Prepare, Succeed, Advance, I was interested in writing something more for the church, but I hadn’t been able to find permanent employment, so I put writing on hold. But as fate would have it, Dr. Todd Still reached out to me in 2010 to see if I was interested in writing a commentary for the beloved Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary series (SHBC). Todd was writing on Philippians for the series and he had a good relationship with the people at Helwys.
Todd and I were destined to be friends, and I have benefited from his wisdom and mentorship for almost twenty years. We met at the British New Testament Society conference (known as BNTC) when I was a doctoral student at Durham (Todd was already teaching in the US). We had a connection through John Barclay—Todd has studied with John at Glasgow, and John was my second supervisor at Durham. I was giving a paper at the BNTC, I was very nervous, and Todd could tell I needed a bit of encouragement after the session. He found me after the session and offered some helpful feedback and, more importantly, allowed me to reach out to him for advice any time I needed. He has been in my corner for a very long time, often giving me positive words, but sometimes words of caution and warning about potential missteps in my career. Todd is one of those people where I say: “When I grow up, I want to be Todd D. Still.” (And he produced an excellent commentary on Philippians & Philemon btw.)
Todd saw potential in me, even as a green new scholar, and he took a chance on recommending me for the SHBC series. The writer for Colossians who was originally assigned to the series had to back out unexpectedly. Todd saw an opening and referred me to the editor, and the editor soon thereafter reached out to me. It was a pretty quick “yes” from me for three reasons: #1: I love commentaries (perhaps a little too much), #2: I love commentaries for pastors and seminary students, and #3: I love short commentaries! One of my favorite features of the SHBC series is the many photos and images selected for the book that illustrate historical or application matters. Also, the commentaries overall are beautifully produced with very thoughtful design elements. I published the commentary on 2013.
For my dissertation at Durham, I focused on the undisputed letters of Paul, especially 1 Corinthians and Philippians. This commentary project got me into the disputed letters where scholars argue over authorship issues. I also had to address the Household Codes and the thorny questions about the situation behind Colossians, the so-called Colossian Philosophy, and reconstructing the false teachers. It was challenging, but I learned a lot. My Colossians commentary has not sold millions of copies, but I know it has been used as a textbook at a few places, and for that I am thankful!
A few years after I published my commentary, Helwys approached me to write for their supplement series on key texts and topics in biblical studies and the life of the church. I had always wanted to write on the Lord’s Prayer, so that is what I did. Eventually, I became the editor of the supplement series. It’s a great series! More to say about that when I get to my post on the Lord’s Prayer commentary.
Do I have any regrets or would I make changes?
Regrets? Not really, but I would probably make some changes or additions if I were to produce a second edition (which is unlikely)…