Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon: Volume 9

Christianity Today Book of the Year

For the early church fathers, certain passages in the shorter letters of St. Paul proved particularly important in doctrinal disputes and practical church matters. Pivotal in controversies with the Arians and the Gnostics, the most commented-on christological text in these letters was Colossians 1:15-20, where Jesus is declared "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation."

The fathers found ample support scattered throughout the Pastorals...