Philippians & Colossians

Ironside Expository Commentaries

by H.A. Ironside

Devotional, practical, and Christ-centered, the Ironside Expository Commentary series offers insightful and practical comments that bring out the essential truths of God's Word. All volumes present the unabridged text in a newly typeset edition. A perfect resource for preaching and teaching from the English text of the Bible, these commentaries also provide the general reader with an excellent resource for personal study and spiritual growth.

216 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2007

About the author

Henry Allen "Harry" Ironside (October 14, 1876-January 15, 1951) was a Canadian-American Bible teacher, preacher, theologian, pastor, and author.

Ironside was one of the most prolific Christian writers of the 20th Century and published more than eighty books and pamphlets, many of which are still in print. As an editorial reviewer wrote of a 2005 republication, "Ironside's commentaries are a standard and have stood the test of time."

Reviews

[Rhonda (IG: growing_faith.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. I read it bit by bit over time, like a devotional. I would read a chapter quickly, then the next time return to the same chapter and take it in slowly with pen & ruler.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ironside's Colossians does not pretend to be a commentary (and should not be marketed as such). The writer's 16 lectures cover the breadth of Colossians in a highly readable manner. The book can be read in its entirety in a short matter of time (the reviewer completed it in two days of light reading). In spite of the fact that this book does not form a true commentary, Ironside does present the text in a very precise and accurate manner. The author demonstrates familiarity with textual variants (e.g. 40) and Greek translation and uses (e.g. 77). A journey through this little volume will give the reader a renewed excitement about the letter to the Colossians and will provide the student with a very applicable side to a very doctrinal epistle. The only issue that the reviewer holds against the volume is the author's strong advocacy for the view of Gnosticism as the heresy in view throughout the book. This conclusion is far from certain even amongst conservative theologians and Ironside unfortunately uses this view in the interpretation of a number of key terms and passages. The reviewer will give this volume 4 stars (-1 due to the aforementioned issue) because of its value as a short practical work on the Book of Colossians. It is reviewed higher than the somewhat comparable work by John MacArthur (Colossians & Philemon (MacArthur Bible Studies)) because Ironside's work does not - on the part of the author - claim to be an exegetical commentary, but merely a collection of lectures. The fact of its marketing as such in this edition is somewhat disconcerting and may prompt a reconsideration of this review in the future. If the reader of this work desires to dig deeper into what he or she has found in this little volume, the reviewer would recommend Homer Kent's helpful commentary (Treasures of Wisdom: Studies in Colossians & Philemon (Kent Collection)).