This commentary on Paul’s highly autobiographical letter to
the Galations traces the history of the book’s reception
through the ages.
* Explores the influence and history of this important New
Testament book
* Demonstrates the crucial role that Galatians has played in the
development of very diverse forms of Christian spirituality
* Considers the influence of Galatians on a wide range of
theological figures, including Chrysostom, Augustine, and
Luther
* Examines the ways in which Galatians has influenced images of
Paul, suggesting that it is the indeterminacy and complexity of his
text that cause it to be interpreted in such widely differing
ways
* Focuses on verses, themes or arguments that have been the
subject of particularly influential readings
* Published in the innovative and stimulating
Wiley-Blackwell Bible Commentaries reception history
series, which focuses on the broad spectrum of interpretations
rather than the traditional verse by verse analysis typically found
in commentaries.
Table of Content
Series Editors’ Preface ix
Preface xi
List of Abbreviations xv
Introduction: Aims and Method, Summary of Findings, Galatians as a ‘World- Building’ Text 1
Galatians 1:1-9: The Beginning of Paul’s Argument 66
Galatians 1:10-24: Paul Argues for His Independence as an Apostle (I); The ‘Conversion’ of Paul the Jew 83
Galatians 2:1-10: Paul Argues for His Independence as an Apostle (II); The Conference at Jerusalem 96
Galatians 2:11-21: Justifi cation by Faith: The New Life in Christ 105
Galatians 3:1-14: Life in the Spirit Contrasted with Living under the Curse of the Law 144
Galatians 3:15-29: The Purpose of the Law and the New Life of Sonship of God 188
Galatians 4:1-20: Paul Contrasts the Galatians’ Present State as Christians with Their Former Lives 214
Galatians 4:21-31: A Concluding Allegory 227
Galatians 5: The New Life of Faith 245
Galatians 6: New Creation: Life Beyond the Law 284
Glossary 302
Works Cited 309
Illustrations 319
Index 320
About the author
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).
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