Paul's Commitment to the Gospel
It was Paul’s custom to write about his own missionary labors and personal involvement with his readers, most naturally after the opening thanksgiving (Rom. 1:11–15; 1 Thes. 2:17–3:11; cf. the lengthy [narration] in Gal. 1:10–2:21), but elsewhere also (Rom. 15:14–32; 1 Cor. 16:1–11; Phm. 21–22). The irregularity of such features is simply a reminder that Paul treated matters of structure and format as completely adaptable to what he wanted to say. So after the lengthy thanksgiving (cf. 1 Thes. 1:2–2:16), Paul picks up the final clause of the last section (“of which I Paul became a minister”) and fills it out.
Dunn, James D. G. The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon: a Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: William B. Eerdmans Publishing; Paternoster Press, 1996. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.
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