Recommended Commentaries

Oddly, I'm still waiting for a modern commentary on Galatians that profoundly grabs me (though I must admit there are some I simply haven't had time to take a good look at).

  • M. Silva - Explorations in Exegetical Method: Galatians as a Test Case (Baker, 1996) - the title says it all. Silva's working on a commentary for BECNT, which should be great when it comes out.
  • Dunn (BNTC = Black's New Testament Commentary, 1993); see also his Theology of Paul's Letter to the Galatians (Cambridge, 1993).
  • H.D. Betz (Hermeneia, 1979) - presently, the standard critical commentary; heavily commited to interpretation via ancient writers on rhetoric.
  • F.F. Bruce (NIGTC = New International Greek Testament Commentary, 1982)
  • Timothy George (New American, 1994) - a reformed baptist; solid guy; the commentary shows a strong sense of the history of exegesis.
  • Luther - OK, as Westerholm observes, Martin may not have understood 1st century Judaism, but you're kidding yourself if you think you can understand Paul without him. Luther's Commentary on Galatians Online