NTK

NTK.  That would be a texting abbreviation for “need to know”.  It is an original framed by me.  I went online to see if there was an official abbreviation and apparently out of the thousands out there, this is not one of them.  I find that kind of troubling since I live much of my life or at least the memory part of my life in the “need to know” or NTK realm.

Are you with me on this?  There is so much information available to us at any given moment that the way I have learned to manage it is on a “need to know” basis.  I think perhaps you have too whether you realize it or not. 

Well today’s post is a NTK post.  I will be sharing all my resources that I will be using as I progress through my memorization and meditation of Colossian’s.  To many of you, this isn’t a big deal and you trust my academic expertise implicitly.  Cue sarcasm.  Others are just, may I be so bold to say, fellow Bible study geeks.  You just really like this kind of thing.  This is definitely a NTK moment for you.  I embrace all of you.  Whatever level of scholarship you are at, you are part of my tribe now.  If you feel the need to end reading here and wait for the next post, go right ahead.  No offense taken and I will still love you. Promise.  But if you are a NTK kind of gal then read on.

First, as I mentioned in an earlier post would be this.

                  

                                   

Then, my all time favorite “go to” commentary series. 

The Bible Knowledge Commentary

                       

                                   

                                   

                       

Also, Word Biblical Commentary by Peter T. O’Brien (Rated #1 on bestcommentaries.com)

In addition, Colossians and Philemon – Tyndale New Testament Commentaries by N.T. Wright.   (Rated #2 on bestcommentaries.com)

                  

Of course, my all time favorite from the series.   

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary  (my pic)

                  

Perhaps as the need arises.

                  

And lastly.

                  

There you have it all you NTK’ers.  I hope this was as exciting for you as it was for me hunting than selecting which resources would be our mainstay for the next year.  Look at them, become familiar with them, for they will be some of our closest friends for the next 365 days and 1.84615385 verses a week.  Just love long binding relationships with books. 

What’s next?  There are two more questions we need to answer before we get started?  The first is “Why Colossians?”  And the second has all to do with background.  Both are crucial and need to be addressed if we are going to get the most from our memorization. 

Hang in there.  We are almost finished.