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The Letter to the Ephesians (The Pillar New Testament Commentary
A clear and comprehensive commentary on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.
In the latest Pillar New Testament Commentary, Constantine R. Campbell illuminates the Letter to the Ephesians with scholarly precision and pastoral warmth. In line with the christological concerns of the letter, Campbell calls special attention to its theme of union with Christ. His thorough analysis covers a breadth of topics, including salvation and grace, the glory of God, and the church and its mission.
Aimed at students and scholars of the Pauline letters, Campbell’s commentary carefully explains each verse of Ephesians with attention to historical and linguistic context. Yet the commentary prioritizes imminent theological concerns and remains accessible to any serious reader of the New Testament.
In the latest Pillar New Testament Commentary, Constantine R. Campbell illuminates the Letter to the Ephesians with scholarly precision and pastoral warmth. In line with the christological concerns of the letter, Campbell calls special attention to its theme of union with Christ. His thorough analysis covers a breadth of topics, including salvation and grace, the glory of God, and the church and its mission.
Aimed at students and scholars of the Pauline letters, Campbell’s commentary carefully explains each verse of Ephesians with attention to historical and linguistic context. Yet the commentary prioritizes imminent theological concerns and remains accessible to any serious reader of the New Testament.
358 pages, Hardcover
Published May 4, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 7, 2025
Finished preaching through Ephesians last night! This commentary has been really excellent! I read it along with Thielman’s commentary in the Baker series, and I recommend combining the two, I thought they worked well together.
Campbell’s commentary is newer, reflects more current scholarship than Thielman’s, and does a really solid and robust job on drawing on one of the main themes of Ephesians: Union with Christ. He has written a lot on the subject before, and it really shows, his reflection on union with Christ is better than anything else I’ve read on the subject.
Also, his work on Paul and slavery was excellent. He shows how without directly demanding the release of slaves, Paul completely undermines the institution of slavery by removing its main tool: violent threatening, and its main justification: superiority of power holding classes.
If you can’t threaten someone to work, you aren’t willing to pay them, and God will severely judge you for any mistreatment of them, how are you to continue owning slaves?
One issue, he is a Greek professor, and this is a short commentary. He spends a lot of space on grammatical issues that would have been helpful in a commentary the size of Thielman’s, but in a shorter one like this I think the space would have been better used on drawing out more theological reflection and application of the passages.
Campbell’s commentary is newer, reflects more current scholarship than Thielman’s, and does a really solid and robust job on drawing on one of the main themes of Ephesians: Union with Christ. He has written a lot on the subject before, and it really shows, his reflection on union with Christ is better than anything else I’ve read on the subject.
Also, his work on Paul and slavery was excellent. He shows how without directly demanding the release of slaves, Paul completely undermines the institution of slavery by removing its main tool: violent threatening, and its main justification: superiority of power holding classes.
If you can’t threaten someone to work, you aren’t willing to pay them, and God will severely judge you for any mistreatment of them, how are you to continue owning slaves?
One issue, he is a Greek professor, and this is a short commentary. He spends a lot of space on grammatical issues that would have been helpful in a commentary the size of Thielman’s, but in a shorter one like this I think the space would have been better used on drawing out more theological reflection and application of the passages.
August 26, 2023
This is the best commentary I have read. Many commentaries are overly long and spend more time trying to nail down issues that can't be nailed down. Many commentators spend more time re-hashing the scholarly debates on issues rather than doing what commentator's job: give their assessment of the text. Campbell knows exactly when the cut the debate short.
It is a much shorter commentary than the one it replaces, by Peter O'Brien, which was removed from circulation a number of years ago. I used that commentary while teaching Ephesians, and it was longer than Campbell's. And while Campbell's is shorter, it isn't lacking in content. What is missing is undue speculation. Campbell presents his views thoroughly, and admits when he believes debate is not helpful. He does not write with a polarizing attitude, but the same time, he does not waver from his commitment to the text.
Campbell is fluent in the original language. He has not only taught it, but written about verbal aspect. I really appreciated the references to the verbal aspect to give clarity to how verbs are used. Regular reference to the original text was helpful for someone like me who is still learning to read the Greek text well.
There is always a tone of grace throughout the commentary. Campbell knows the Evangelical culture well, and he knows what kind of division there is. I especially appreciated his excursus on men and women following his commentary on the household codes. I was glad to hear someone else who has far more education than I voice the concern over the terms "egalitarian" and "complementarian." In the excursus, Campbell simply lays out the issues but doesn't try to do verbal gymnastics to convince the reader that his views are absolute truth.
Campbell writes like a teacher. Not all theologians are good teachers, but he is both a good theologian and a good teacher. He writes in such a way to make a commentary enjoyable to read.
It is a much shorter commentary than the one it replaces, by Peter O'Brien, which was removed from circulation a number of years ago. I used that commentary while teaching Ephesians, and it was longer than Campbell's. And while Campbell's is shorter, it isn't lacking in content. What is missing is undue speculation. Campbell presents his views thoroughly, and admits when he believes debate is not helpful. He does not write with a polarizing attitude, but the same time, he does not waver from his commitment to the text.
Campbell is fluent in the original language. He has not only taught it, but written about verbal aspect. I really appreciated the references to the verbal aspect to give clarity to how verbs are used. Regular reference to the original text was helpful for someone like me who is still learning to read the Greek text well.
There is always a tone of grace throughout the commentary. Campbell knows the Evangelical culture well, and he knows what kind of division there is. I especially appreciated his excursus on men and women following his commentary on the household codes. I was glad to hear someone else who has far more education than I voice the concern over the terms "egalitarian" and "complementarian." In the excursus, Campbell simply lays out the issues but doesn't try to do verbal gymnastics to convince the reader that his views are absolute truth.
Campbell writes like a teacher. Not all theologians are good teachers, but he is both a good theologian and a good teacher. He writes in such a way to make a commentary enjoyable to read.
May 29, 2023
When I first beheld this book, the first surprise was how slender it was. I mean Ephesians is one of the most prominent NT letters of all. Perhaps the quick turnaround from when Pillar’s previous Ephesians volume was retired contributed to it. Still, I knew Constantine Campbell’s expertise on union with Christ and union’s prominence in Ephesians suggested the volume would have to possess distinct advantages. The size turned out to be not a factor really and the expected proficiency was present as well.
The Introduction was sufficient, thoughtful, and well reasoned even if it too was shorter than some similar volumes. Authorship, background, and date lined up with conservative conclusions. Themes, beginning with, you guessed it, union with Christ, was the best section of the Introduction. Structure was given something of a short shrift, but overall the Introduction satisfied.
The commentary impressed me. I found the flow of logic that he laid out for arriving at his conclusions was truly enlightening. All the main passages including the thorny Household Code were well handled. I felt I was getting real help in every case.
I know it’s a bit overused in commentary reviews these days, but the word for this one is judicious.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
The Introduction was sufficient, thoughtful, and well reasoned even if it too was shorter than some similar volumes. Authorship, background, and date lined up with conservative conclusions. Themes, beginning with, you guessed it, union with Christ, was the best section of the Introduction. Structure was given something of a short shrift, but overall the Introduction satisfied.
The commentary impressed me. I found the flow of logic that he laid out for arriving at his conclusions was truly enlightening. All the main passages including the thorny Household Code were well handled. I felt I was getting real help in every case.
I know it’s a bit overused in commentary reviews these days, but the word for this one is judicious.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
November 29, 2023
It is very good, and impressively is significantly shorter than the volume it replaces. Readable and careful, this is an excellent example of the PNTC, and the commentary genre generally.
Full review: https://www.thomascreedy.co.uk/book-r...
Full review: https://www.thomascreedy.co.uk/book-r...
August 2, 2024
Très bon commentaire dans lequel l'auteur allie clarté, brièveté, précision. On est vraiment avec un commentaire du texte et non avec un commentaire de commentaire. On n'a jamais l'impression de s'attarder trop longtemps sur un texte ni de le passer trop rapidement.
L'auteur sait aussi prendre position pour lui-même sans être artificiellement inféodé à un système particulier (même si il ne cache pas ses préférences c'est toujours de façon argumenté et en rapport avec le texte, jamais forcé)
L'auteur sait aussi prendre position pour lui-même sans être artificiellement inféodé à un système particulier (même si il ne cache pas ses préférences c'est toujours de façon argumenté et en rapport avec le texte, jamais forcé)
November 19, 2024
This is an clearly written, exegetical sound, cogently argued commentary on Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Despite its relative size (1/2 to 1/3 smaller than other commentaries on this book), Campbell is an example of doing a lot with little and, as such, we give the meat of larger commentaries without the labor to get there. Highly recommended.
December 23, 2023
Clarity in brevity, both theological and appropriately technical on pertinent grammatical points. This is a great read that happens to be a very useful and edifying commentary on Ephesians. If you only had this, you’d be well equipped to understand and teach Ephesians.
January 11, 2025
The PNTC set is one of my favorite commentary sets. Not much fluff and doesn't waste your time.
November 25, 2025
I have my disagreements with Campbell but his Greek skills are outstanding. In fact, I would argue he is one of the best Koine Greek scholars in the world.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews