Galatians

“Wherever ethnic rivalries are destroying societies, the book of Galatians calls Christians to express the truth of the gospel in communities where there are no ethnic or social or gender divisions.” With this strong admonition, Walter Hansen introduces his IVP New Testament Commentary on Galatians. Unlike many other commentaries, Hansen’s volume highlights not only the individual dimensions of justification by faith but also its social implications. But like all the volumes in the IVP New Testament Commentary Series, it seeks to explicate the Scriptures with historical accuracy and textual faithfulness, providing helpful explanatory notes and a passage-by-passage commentary in a user-friendly format. But Hansen strives to do even more. With a pastor’s conviction and concern, he aims to move from the text itself to its contemporary relevance and application. His bold, careful interpretation challenges students and teachers of this important Pauline letter to move beyond merely the question “How can I, a sinner, be right before a just and holy God?” and to find in Galatians a healing word addressed to the ongoing tensions of race, class and gender–a word worked out in the life of the whole church. “If a church does not defend in practice the equality and unity of all in Christ,” writes Hansen, “it implicitly communicates that justification is not by faith but by race, social status or some other standard. Faith must not be defined in individualistic terms; faith as Paul defines it . . . is ‘faith working through love.’” Students, pastors, Bible teachers and everyone who wants to understand the transforming message of Galatians for the church will benefit from this excellent resource.