Usually full-length commentaries devote much of their space to surveying and evaluating the secondary literature--a useful but rarely a fresh or exciting venture. Baugh's commentary is different. Every page reflects years of exacting study of primary sources--classical literature, inscriptions, the first-century historical context (especially the history of Ephesus, gleaned from both archaeological and documentary evidence), coupled with a profound commitment to biblical theology. This does not mean he spends so much time on the historical and literary contexts that he fails to study the letter itself: far from it. Rather, Baugh's impressive learning is in service of understanding Ephesians. Baugh's comments are invariably measured, judicious, the product of informed and careful scholarship, lightly worn. Mercifully, the excellent scholarship comes in readable prose, making this a thoroughly interesting and stimulating work. This is now unquestionably the best technical commentary on Ephesians.--D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School"We have a number of excellent commentaries on Ephesians, and so we might wonder if there is a need for another one. S. M. Baugh, however, has written a fresh and independent commentary on the letter. His expert knowledge of the Greco-Roman world shines through his exposition, as does his facility in Greek grammar. Students, pastors, and scholars will find Baugh to be a must read as they study the text and theology of one of Paul's most important letters."--Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation"S. M. Baugh is the exegete's exegete and this commentary is pure gold. Turning first to controversial passages I've preached or written on before, I discovered, sure enough, that I had more work to do! He doesn't just give us his answers, but shows us his work by thorough attention to ancient sources, contexts, literary practices, and engagement with the history of Christian interpretation. For the pastor-scholar intent on mining the mystery revealed in Ephesians, this commentary is indispensable."--Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California"This is not just an outstanding commentary, it is an important one. Decades of study of Scripture and of many aspects of the ancient world come together to produce a fresh and enlightening study of Paul's letter to the Ephesians. The reader will learn, perhaps for the first time, what really constitutes an author's "style," with an introduction to rhythm, meter, cola, periods, rhetoric, and literary composition, that is, to issues that help us appreciate how ancient readers would have read and heard the text. Illustrations are copiously supplied from Biblical and classical literature and from ancient inscriptions. Baugh gives attention to actual manuscripts of Ephesians, to their characteristics and the ways they divide the text. One might expect the author of a NT Greek Grammar to treat all relevant aspects of the Greek language in the text of epistle, and this expectation is happily satisfied, to the benefit of the expositor of Scripture. Excurses at the end of the commentary enrich our understanding of various background issues based on Baugh's wide learning in ancient language and culture. All of these features that we might associate with an academic commentary are joined to a theological and devotional approach to the text as God's word for his people. Baugh's method of treating the text according to ancient ways of reading it and hearing it ought to form a model for much future work in Biblical commentary."--Charles E. Hill, John R. Richardson Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, Reformed Theological Seminary"S. M. Baugh's commentary on Ephesians is a model of how commentaries ought to be written and organized. The fruit of thirty years of study, Baugh's Ephesians is packed with exegetical insight, well-expressed in clarity of analysis and charity of argument. It is also filled with pastoral wisdom and helpful application. Baugh's defense of Pauline authorship of Ephesians in the context of his larger discussion of the composition of such first century epistles is compelling. If you plan on preaching through Ephesians (or Paul's letters in general), this is a 'must have' volume."--Dr. Kim Riddlebarger, co-host of the White Horse Inn radio broadcast and author of The Lion of Princeton
