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.

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).

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.

• 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.

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