Martinus C. de Boer

Galatians

A Commentary

© 2011 Martinus C. de Boer

2013 paperback edition

Originally published in hardback in the United States

by Westminster John Knox Press in 2011

Louisville, Kentucky

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Westminster John Knox Press, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396. Or contact us online at www.wjkbooks.com.

Scripture quotations outside Galatians, unless otherwise identified, are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible. Copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Except as otherwise specified, Galatians is cited from the author’s translation; and AT signifies other author translations.

Scripture quotations marked rsv are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971, and 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.

Book design by Jennifer K. Cox

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

ISBN 978-0-664-22123-2 (hardback)

ISBN 978-0-664-23982-4 (paperback)

THE NEW TESTAMENT LIBRARY

Editorial Advisory Board

C. Clifton Black

M. Eugene Boring

John T. Carroll

For

Marinus de Jonge

J. Louis Martyn

Paul W. Meyer

Christopher M. Tuckett

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Bibliography

Introduction

The Approach of This Commentary

A Note on the Translation

Addressees

Date

Structure

Overview

COMMENTARY

I. 1:1–10 The Letter Opening

1:1–5 Prescript

Excursus 1: The Title “Apostle”

Excursus 2: Galatians and Apocalyptic Eschatology

Excursus 3: The Letter Opening

1:6–10 Rebuke and Imprecation

Excursus 4: The New Preachers and Their Gospel

Excursus 5: The Genre of Galatians and Paul’s Use of Rhetorical Forms and Conventions

II. 1:11–2:21 The Origin and the Truth of the Gospel

1:11–17 The Origin of the Gospel 1: Paul’s Conversion and Call

Excursus 6: Paul’s Language of Apocalyptic Revelation

1:18–24 The Origin of the Gospel 2: Paul’s Visit with Cephas in Jerusalem

2:1–10 The Truth of the Gospel 1: The Apostolic Conference in Jerusalem

Excursus 7: The Problem of Galatians 2:7b–8

2:11–14 The Truth of the Gospel 2: Conflict with Cephas in Antioch

2:15–21 The Truth of the Gospel for the Galatian Situation

Excursus 8: Works of the Law

Excursus 9: The Faith of Jesus Christ

III. 3:1–4:7 The Spirit and the True Heirs of the Promise Made to Abraham

3:1–5 The Reception of the Spirit in Galatia

Excursus 10: The Greek Phrase ex akoēs pisteōs

3:6–14 The Blessing of Abraham and the Curse of the Law

Excursus 11: Faith (pistis) in Galatians 3

3:15–22 The Promise ...