Contents -- Illustration -- Acknowledgments -- List of Abbreviations -- Chapter One Introduction and History of Research -- Chapter Two On Determining Allusions and Echoes: Definitions and Methodology -- An Author-Oriented or Reader-Oriented Approach? -- Literary Modes of Reference: Quotation, Allusion, and Echo -- Quotation -- Allusion -- Echo -- Parallel -- Strong Genealogical Parallel -- Weak Genealogical Parallel -- Analogical Parallel -- Criteria for Determining the Existence of an Allusion -- First Tier of Evidence: Essential Criteria -- Availability -- Word Agreement or Rare Concept Similarity -- Essential Interpretive Link -- Second Tier of Evidence: Confirmatory Observations -- Scholarly Assessment -- Old Testament and Jewish Interpretive Tradition -- Other Verified References from the same OT Context in Colossians -- Occurrence Elsewhere in the Pauline Corpus -- Thematic Coherence -- Criteria for Determining the Existence of an Echo -- Classification -- Methodological Approach for Interpreting the Old Testament in the Letter to the Colossians -- Exegesis of the Old Testament Passage Alluded to or Echoed in both its Broad and Immediate Context -- Investigation of the Interpretive Tradition of the Old Testament Text -- Comparison of the Versions and Analysis of Paul's Textual Use -- Exegesis of the Appropriate Text in Colossians -- Examination of the other Uses of the same OT Text Elsewhere in the NT as well as in the Early Church Fathers -- Analysis of Paul's Hermeneutical Use of the OT -- Conclusion -- Chapter Three The Scriptures of Israel in Colossians 1:3-8: The Echo of Genesis 1:28 in 1:6 -- Comparison of Textual Versions and Evaluation -- Old Testament Context: Genesis 1:24-31 -- "Be Fruitful and Multiply": the Interpretive Tradition in the OT -- The Genesis 1:28 Tradition in Early and Late Judaism.

New Testament Context: The Genesis 1:28 Exegetical Tradition in Colossians 1:6 -- The Genesis 1:28 Tradition in the Rest of the NT -- The Genesis 1:28 Tradition in the Early Church Fathers -- Hermeneutical Reflections -- Chapter Four The Scriptures of Israel in Colossians 1:9-14: The Echo of Isaiah 11:2, 9 in 1:9-10 -- Comparison of Textual Versions and Evaluation -- Old Testament Context: Isaiah 11:1-9 -- The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding Elsewhere in the Old Testament -- Isaiah 11:2, 9 in Early and Late Judaism -- New Testament Context: Isaiah 11:2, 9 in Colossians 1:9-10 -- The Spirit of Wisdom in the Rest of the New Testament -- Isaiah 11:2 in the Early Church Fathers -- Hermeneutical and Theological Reflections -- Chapter Five The Scriptures of Israel in Colossians 1:9-14: The Echo of the Exodus Motif in 1:12-14 -- Comparison of Textual Versions and Evaluation -- The Exodus from Egypt for the Land of Promise -- The Second Exodus Theme in the Old Testament -- Israel's Release from Babylonia as an "Already-Not Yet" Restoration -- The Exodus Theme in Early and Late Judaism -- The Exodus Theme in Colossians 1:12-14 -- The Second Exodus Theme in the Rest of the NT -- The Exodus in the Early Church Fathers -- Hermeneutical and Theological Reflections -- Chapter Six The Scriptures of Israel in Colossians 1:9-14: The Echo of the 2 Samuel 7 Promise-To-David Exegetical Tradition In 1:13 -- Comparison of Textual Versions and Evaluation -- Old Testament Context: 2 Samuel 7:1-18 -- 2 Samuel 7:12-14 and its Interpretive Tradition in the Old Testament -- 2 Samuel 7:12-14 and Its Interpretive Tradition in Early and Late Judaism -- New Testament Context: 2 Samuel 7:12-14, 18 in Colossians 1:13 -- The 2 Samuel 7 Tradition in the Rest of the NT and in the Early Fathers -- Hermeneutical and Theological Reflections.

Chapter Seven The Scriptures of Israel in Colossians 1:15-20: The Allusion to the Proverbs 8:22-31 Interpretive Development in 1:15-20 -- Comparison of Textual Versions and Evaluation -- Old Testament Context: Proverbs 8:22-31 -- Proverbs 8:22-31 and Its Interpretive Development in Early and Late Judaism -- New Testament Context: The Use of the Proverbs 8:22-31 Interpretive Development in Colossians 1:15-20 -- Proverbs 8:22-31 and Its Exegesis in the Rest of the nt and in the Early Church Fathers -- Hermeneutical Reflections -- Chapter Eight The Scriptures of Israel in Colossians 1:15-20: The Echo of Psalm 68:16 (67:17 lxx) in 1:19 -- Comparison of Textual Versions and Evaluation -- Old Testament Context: Psalm 68(67): 16-19 [15-18 et] -- Psalm 68:17 and its Exegetical Tradition in Early and Late Judaism -- New Testament Context: Psalm 68:16 (67:17 lxx) in Colossians 1:19 -- Summary: The Proverbs 8 Wisdom Development and Ps 67:17 lxx in Col 1:15-20 -- Chapter Nine The Scriptures of Israel in Colossians 2:8-15: The Echo of Deuteronomy 30:6 in 2:11 -- Comparison of Textual Versions and Evaluation -- Old Testament Context: Deuteronomy 30:1-10 -- Old Testament Parallels to Deuteronomy 30:6 -- Jeremiah 31:33 and Deuteronomy 30:6 -- Ezekiel 36:26-27 and Deuteronomy 30:6 -- Deuteronomy 30:6, Jeremiah 31:31-34, and Ezekiel 36:26-27 in Early and Late Judaism -- New Testament Context: Deuteronomy 30:6 in Colossians 2:11 -- Deuteronomy 30:6, Jeremiah 31:33, and Ezekiel 36:26-27 in the Rest of the nt and in the Early Fathers -- Hermeneutical Reflections -- Chapter Ten The Scriptures of Israel in Colossians 2:8-15: The Echo of Genesis 17 in 2:13 -- Comparison of Textual Versions and Evaluation -- Old Testament Context: Genesis Chapter 17 -- The Gen 17 Old Testament Interpretive Tradition -- Genesis 17 in Early and Late Judaism.

New Testament Context: Genesis 17's τὴν σάρκα τῆς ἀκροβυστίας in Colossians 2:13 -- Other nt Passages and the Early Church Fathers -- Hermeneutical and Theological Reflections -- Summary: Deuteronomy 30:6 and Genesis 17 in Colossians 2:11, 13 -- Chapter Eleven The Scriptures of Israel in Colossians 2:16-23: The Echo Of Isaiah 29:13 in 2:22 -- Comparison of Textual Versions and Evaluation -- Old Testament Context: Isaiah 29:13-14 -- Isaiah 29:13-14 in Early and Late Judaism -- New Testament Context: Isaiah 29:13 in Colossians 2:22 -- Colossians 2:16 -- Colossians 2:17 -- Colossians 2:18-19 -- The Meaning of ταπεινοφροσύνη at 2:18 and 2:23 -- Colossians 2:20-23 -- Isaiah 29:13 in the Rest of the nt and in the Early Fathers -- Hermeneutical Reflections -- Chapter Twelve The Scriptures of Israel in Colossians 3:1-4: The Echo of Psalm 110:1 in 3:1 -- Comparison of Textual Versions and Evaluation -- Old Testament Context: Psalm 110 -- Psalm 110:1 in Early and Late Judaism -- New Testament Context: Psalm 110:1 in Colossians 3:1-4 -- Psalm 110:1 in the Rest of the nt and in the Early Fathers -- Hermeneutical and Theological Reflections -- Chapter Thirteen The Scriptures of Israel in Colossians 3:5-17: The Allusion to Genesis 1:26-27 in 3:10 -- Comparison of Textual Versions and Evaluation -- Old Testament Context: Genesis 1:26-27 -- Genesis 1:26-27 and Its Exegetical Tradition in Early and Late Judaism -- New Testament Context: Genesis 1:26-27 in Colossians 3:10 -- Hermeneutical and Theological Reflections -- Chapter Fourteen The Ramifications of the Investigation -- Ramifications for the Overall Understanding of Colossians -- Ramifications of the Investigation for the Relationship Between the Testaments -- How Many of Paul's References Would his Audience Have Actually Detected?.

Ramifications of the Investigation for the Question of Paul's Use of the ot in Relation to the Original Context of Scripture -- Why Are There No Explicit Quotations of Scripture in Colossians? -- Ramifications of the Investigation for the Issue of Authorship -- Ramifications of the Investigation for the Relationship Between Colossians and Ephesians -- Appendix -- Appendix One Chart Summary of the Allusions and Echoes of Scripture Detected in Paul's Letter to the Colossians -- Appendix Two Proverbs 2:2-6 in Colossians 2:2-3? -- Appendix Three The Probable Text-Forms Behind the Detected Allusions and Echoes in Paul's Letter to the Colossians -- Selected Bibliography -- Primary Sources -- Secondary Literature -- Index of Ancient Sources -- Index of Authors -- Index of Greek and Hebrew Words and Phrases -- Index of Subjects.