Galatians Through The Centuries

Paul's letter to the Galatians is one of the most creative and subversive of the New Testament writings, drawing its energy from the fierce controversy which, to his great distress, was disturbing the congregation recently founded by Paul. One of the major sources of inspiration for the Reformation, it was also one of the writings most frequently turned to by the Fathers, as the Church sought to establish itself as the Church of the Empire.

This commentary looks at some of the major commentators on the letter - Chrysostom, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Perkins, Lightfoot - and at the very different worlds which sprang from their readings.

The volume opens with an extended essay, setting the commentators in their historical setting and showing the close dialogue which exists among them. It then looks more closely at how they interrogate Paul's text and at the way the text shapes their understanding of their worlds.

John Riches was until his retirement in 2003 Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at Glasgow University. Among his books on the New Testament are Jesus and the Transformation of Judaism (1980), A Century of New Testament Study (1993) and Conflicting Mythologies (2000).

Series Editors’ Preface.
Preface.
List of Abbreviations.
Galatians 1:1-9: The beginning of Paul’s argument.
Galatians 1:10-24. Paul argues for his independence as an apostle (I).
Galatians 2:1-10 Conference at Jerusalem.
Galatians 2:11-2:21. Justification by faith: the new life in Christ.
Galatians 3:1-14 Life in the spirit contrasted with living under the curse of the Law.
Galations 3:15-29. The purpose of the Law and the new life of Sonship of God.
Galatians 4:1-20 Paul contrast the Galatians’ present state as Christians with their former lives.
Galations 4:21-31: A concluding allegory.
Galatians 5: The new life of faith.
Galations 6: NewCreation: life beyond the Law.
Galalations 6:11-18 A new creation.
Glossary.
Bibliography.
Index