Galatians is often read by Christians as being primarily concerned with the traditional doctrine of justification through faith, but it is also a text focused deeply on the political concerns of its specific historical moment. This commentary from N. T. Wright—the inaugural volume of the Commentaries for Christian Formation series—offers a theological interpretation of Galatians that puts that historical context of the book in dialogue with present questions, so that readers can understand both what Paul meant and what his writing might mean for us today.

Each section of verse-by-verse commentary in this volume is followed by Wright’s reflections on what the text says about Christian formation today, making this an excellent resource for individual readers and those preparing to teach or preach on Galatians. The focus on formation is especially appropriate for this biblical letter, in which Paul wrote to his fellow early Christians, “My children—I seem to be in labor with you all over again, until the Messiah is fully formed in you!”

The Commentaries for Christian Formation (CCF) series serves a central purpose of the Word of God for the people of God: faith formation. Some series focus on exegesis, some on preaching, some on teaching, and some on application. This new series integrates all these aims, serving the church by showing how sound theological exegesis can underwrite preaching and teaching, which in turn forms believers in the faith.

Uniting these volumes is a shared conviction that interpreting Scripture is not an end in itself. Faithful belief, prayer, and practice, deeper love of God and neighbor: these are ends of scriptural interpretation for Christians. The volumes in Commentaries for Christian Formation interpret Scripture in ways aimed at ordering readers’ lives and worship in imitation of Christ, informing their understanding of God, and animating their participation in the church’s global mission with a deepened sense of calling.

Table of Contents

Introduction to Galatians

 The Situation in Galatia

 Paul’s Answer

 Commentaries and Christian Formation

Galatians 1:1–17

 The Charge: Pleasing People

 Galatians 1:1–5: Apostleship and the Gospel

 Galatians 1:6–9: Another Gospel?

 Galatians 1:10–17: The Story So Far

 Conclusion: Formation

Galatians 1:18–2:10

 Galatians 1:18–24: First Jerusalem Visit: A Happy Relationship

 Galatians 2:1–10: The Second Visit: Standing Firm

 Galatians 2:1–5: “Not Compelled”

 Galatians 2:6–10: “Nothing Added”

 Conclusion

Galatians 2:11–21

 Galatians 2:11–14: Peter in Antioch

 Galatians 2:15–21: Introduction

 Historical Exegesis

  Galatians 2:15–16

  Galatians 2:19–21

 Conclusion

Galatians 3:1–14

 How Does Abraham’s Story Work?

 Galatians 3:1–5: The Spirit and Faith

 Galatians 3:6–9: Abraham and the Covenant

 Galatians 3:10–14: The Curse of the Law

 Galatians 3:15–29

 Galatians 3:15–18

 Galatians 3:19–22: Why Then the Law?

 Galatians 3:23–25: Under the Paidagōgos

 Galatians 3:26–29: Abraham’s One Family

 Conclusion

Galatians 4:1–11

 Galatians 4:1–7: The New Exodus

  Galatians 4:4–7: Introduction

  Galatians: 4:8–11: Don’t Go Back to Slavery!

 Conclusion

Galatians 4:12–5:1

 Galatians 4:12–20: True Friends and False Friends

 Galatians 4:21–5:1: Two Women, Two Families, Two Covenants, Two Mountains

 Conclusion

Galatians 5:2–26

 Introduction

 Galatians 5:2–6: The Warning

 Galatians 5:7–12: The Challenge

 Galatians 5:13–26 Love and the Spirit

 Galatians 5:13–15: Introduction: Freedom and Love

 Galatians 5:16–18

 Galatians 5:19–26

 Galatians 6:1–18

 Galatians 6:1–10: Closing Exhortations

 Galatians 6:1–5: Mutual and Individual Responsibility

 Galatians 6:6–10: Sowing to the Flesh or the Spirit

 Galatians 6:11–18: Final Warnings and Example

 Conclusion