Philippians: Volume 8

I bought this book because I own another one (Romans) from this series, and Lightfoot's commentary is considered a classic. I was not disappointed at all with this purchase. It is short which actually makes sense because the book of Philippians is only four chapters long. Despite its brevity, it contains lots of great information about the book of Philippians. First - it includes an excellent introduction to the book, giving its context, and explaining the context of Paul's situation. Second - Lightfoot's translation of the original text is rich and wonderful. When I read his translation and notes I really learned a lot more about what Paul had to say to the church of Philippi - one of his favorite congregations. It truly reveals the heart of Paul towards these people, and the joy he received from God despite being in prison while writing it. If you are interested in learning more about the book of Philippians, I highly recommend this commentary. It is easy enough for the average reader (like myself) to understand, and short enough to read quickly. Lastly, I used some of this commentary when preparing classes for the youth of our church, and found it very helpful in revealing the heart of Paul to a young generation.

As a Precepts Upon Precepts leader, I usually purchase no less than three commentaries on each book I lead. Invarably, one of these commentaries always stands out above the rest. That is certainly the case with this excellent exposition on Philippians written by the great nineteenth century New Testament scholar, J.B. Lightfoot. It is written in an easy to understand verse by verse layout with an excellent emphasis given to the original Greek usage of the words. The detailed explaination of the use of the word "form" will certainly enlighten any believer to the true meaning of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. If you are studying Philippians and can afford only one commentary, this is the one to purchase.