From Balabanski's erudite commentary on Colossians, one learns much about the historical, sociocultural, and intellectual context of western Asia Minor in the first century CE, one is drawn into a deeper appreciation of key thematic emphases of the letter to Colossae, one encounters sagacious hermeneutical engagement with a profound New Testament document in view of a major challenge in our day, and one witnesses how biblical interpretation may tap imagination no less than intellect. This volume in the Earth Bible Commentary marks a significant contribution to biblical scholarship that will, I hope, inform discussion of Colossians well into the future.

Review of Biblical Literature

Based on many years of research into ancient Stoicism, ecological hermeneutics, and the letter to the Colossians, this commentary offers a rich and compelling reading of the letter which is both scholarly and accessible. Vicky Balabanski shows the importance of Stoic ideas both to early Christian theology and to contemporary ecological reflection, and her eco-Stoic reading of Colossians shows how much this letter could contribute to the ecological reshaping of Christian theology and ethics. Her imaginative voicing of Nympha's thoughts also adds a creative and reflective dimension to the commentary. Unlike existing commentaries, this work brings the letter's theology – especially its Christology – into explicit dialogue with contemporary ecological questions, and thus provides rich resources for Christians in particular to address the most urgent global issue of our time.

David G. Horrell, University of Exeter, UK

Balabanski's expertise with biblical, ecological and gender analyses, and her deep commitments to biblical wisdom and ecological health, bring Colossians to life. This book is an essential contribution to the field of ecological theology, assisting individuals and communities to embrace an ecological and spirit-filled future.

Heather Eaton, Saint Paul University, Canada