Heavenly Perspective: A Study of the Apostle Paul's Response to a Jewish Mystical Movement at Colossae

(Hardback)

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This book identifies the source of the Colossian error as from within Jewish mystical movements and shows how both the theology and practice which is taught in the epistle is to be understood from this context. The book gives a helpful overview of scholarship that has attempted to identify the nature and source of the Colossian error. The book, unlike many others on the topic, is exegetically driven, and will model thorough and careful exegetical practice. The book interacts with extra-Biblical texts which help the reader to understand the mystical contexts of first century Judaism.

Reviews

mention- The Chronicle of Higher Education/ October 13, 2006
"In this important study, Smith has moved the discussion forward in several ways. He has successfully revived the thesis that Paul was countering a form of Jewish mysticism that can indeed be dated to Paul's time and that was prevalent in the Mediterranean world. He provides a helpful survey to texts that point to the significance of "heavenly ascents" in Jewish mysticism, and he is able to show how such 'heavenly ascents' build on a corollary set of beliefs, beliefs that can in turn be manifested in a host of practices...More importantly, this study delivers what it promises in providing a detailed examination of major portions of Colossians. Instead of focusing on selected verses, this study shows how an examination of the entire epistle is necessary in determining what Paul is countering in this epistle...no further study on the Colossian text in general and the Colossian heresy in particular can afford to ignore this detailed and careful study." David W. Pao, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, December 2007 -- David W. Pao
Reviewed in International Review of Biblical Studies, 2007.
"Dr Smith offers some careful exegesis" "a thorough amd sometimes illuminting addition to the monograph literature on this difficult epistle. Research libraries will want it" Theological Book Review, vol.19 no.2 2007 -- Robert Morgan

Author Bio

Ian Smith (PhD) has lectured for over ten years in Greek and New Testament at the Presbyterian Theological Centre, Sydney, Australia. He has been involved in cross-cultural theological education in the Pacific (Vanuatu) and in pastoral ministry in Australia.