Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon: The Fellowship of the Gospel and The Supremacy of Christ

Preaching the Word

by R. Kent Hughes

Paul's epistles to the churches of Philippi and Colossae, and to Philemon stand together as some of the most profound illustrations of the unifying power of the gospel in all of Scripture. Highlighting the reconciliation that Christians enjoy in and through Jesus, Paul's lofty words and impassioned exhortations spur us to embrace one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

These books also cover important topics such as: Joy for the Christian life The priority of the gospel Finding true contentment in Christ Safeguards against seduction The source of fullness for the Christian family

In this study of Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, renowned pastor R. Kent Hughes amplifies and explains the apostle Paul's message with memorable illustrations and penetrating insights into the biblical text. His careful exegesis and perceptive applications will encourage fresh understanding and promote lasting growth as readers are systematically led through God's Word.

Genres: Theology, Christian, New Testament

434 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

R. Kent Hughes (DMin, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is senior pastor emeritus of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, and a visiting professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hughes is also a founder of the Charles Simeon Trust, which conducts expository preaching conferences throughout North America and worldwide. He and his wife, Barbara, have four children and an ever-increasing number of grandchildren.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 Another beautiful commentary in the Preaching the Word series. Kent Hughes is a powerful writer, carefully expositing the Word of God in a thrilling and enjoyable way. I love how eminently readable he always is, with plenty of stories and anecdotes to drive his points home. He never strays too far from the text, and is faithful to Paul’s words. His applications are sharp - I was convicted in most all areas of my life at different times in this journey through Philippians and Colossians (+ 1 chapter on Philemon). Hughes makes sure - in a Gospel-centred way - we’re aware of just how Paul (and the Spirit) are encouraging us to live our lives. Excellent commentary.

[Troy McGahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best commentaries I have ever used!!

[Steve Croft · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my 7th book I've completed in the PTW commentary series, reading alongside the M'cheyne bible reading plan. This one, like the others, is an excellent resource for unpacking the meaning and context of scriptures by exegetically studying each chapter a paragraph at a time. I learned a lot and will no doubt be back when looking at certain verses in the future.

Philippians is probably (just a guess) the most quoted book in the bible and it was insightful for me to learn the context and meaning behind all the oft quoted verses. It was also Pauls favorite church and so you can see his love shine through in the letter. Colossians was a defence against gnostic teachings and so is all about the fullness of Christ and has the most exalting declaration for Christ's supremesy in the whole bible. Philemon is actually a pretty funny letter and really showed Pauls wit and genius writing skills.

Kent is (was 😢) a great teacher and clearly has a pastors heart. Highly recommend this series to anyone wanting to dig deeper into the scriptures.

[Allie MacPhail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this commentary as a resource to use with our current Bible study based on the book of Colossians. However I felt compelled to read it all. This commentary reads like a sermon series. Taking time to explain exegetical arguments all the while pairing them with examples and quotes that fit the verses of focus! Loved this commentary!!

[Wesley Roth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preaching the Word is a great commentary set! I used this for my NT Survey class this fall on one of my major assignments. I love how R Kent Hughes writes - pastor-like!

[Josiah DeGraaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I tend to struggle with commentaries, Hughes had a number of good insights on these books that I appreciated.

[Bob Wolniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great place to gather ideas, illustrations, organization and good quotes for sermons in these books. Most appreciated!

[Vaughn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's accessible and easy to read with helpful insights that. However, if you're looking for an academic reference, this would not be my first, second, or third choice. If on the other hand, you're interested in a quick reference for gaining a broad understanding of Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon - perhaps to round out personal knowledge or gain a grounding before digging deeper, this would be a cost-effective solution.