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Galatians (9)
A new commentary for today's world, The Story of God Bible Commentary explains and illuminates each passage of Scripture in light of the Bible's grand story. The first commentary series to do so, SGBC offers a clear and compelling exposition of biblical texts, guiding everyday readers in how to creatively and faithfully live out the Bible in their own contexts. Its story-centric approach is ideal for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and laypeople alike. Three easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God's Praise for "The editors and contributors set that table very well and open up the biblical story in ways that move us to act with sensitivity and understanding ... Well done." -Daniel I. Block, Wheaton College and Graduate School "[The] easy-to-use format and practical guidance brings God's grand story to modern-day life so anyone can understand how it applies today." -Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor, North Point Ministries "Engagingly readable, it not only explores the biblical text but offers a range of applications and interesting illustrations." -Craig S. Keener, Asbury Theological Seminary "I love the SGBC series. It makes the text sing and helps us hear the story afresh." -John Ortberg, Senior Pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church "Pastors, Bible study leaders, and Christians of all types who are looking for a substantive and practical guide through the Scriptures will find these volumes helpful." -Frank Thielman, Beeson Divinity School "This commentary series breaks new ground ... Ideal for preaching and teaching." -Craig Blomberg, Denver Seminary "A perfect tool for helping every follower of Jesus to walk in the story that God is writing for them." -Judy Douglass, Cru
- GenresTheology
320 pages, Hardcover
Published November 14, 2023
About the author
Nijay K. Gupta
53 books223 followersNijay K. Gupta is Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He has written or edited more than twenty books and has published dozens of academic articles. He is an award-winning researcher and a member of the Society of New Testament Studies.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 6, 2024
Gupta's years of work and meditation in Galatians are evident in this volume. He does an excellent job of explaining not only why Paul wrote Galatians and what it meant to the original audience, but also how these words apply to our lives today.
I especially enjoyed the "Live the Story" sections at the end of each chapter. One chapter alone contains meditations about:
Public rebuke
Christianity and the Culture Wars
What it means to live by Faith
Being in wrong places for right reasons
Grasping Old Testament Grace
I especially enjoyed the "Live the Story" sections at the end of each chapter. One chapter alone contains meditations about:
Public rebuke
Christianity and the Culture Wars
What it means to live by Faith
Being in wrong places for right reasons
Grasping Old Testament Grace
January 9, 2025
Quite brilliant. Easy to read and its strength is its application. Love its relevance to living out a new kind of life as one in Christ.
November 21, 2023
This new commentary from Nijay Gupta is balanced and insightful. It will be one that I return to frequently as I teach and think about this letter.
This commentary is balanced because Gupta does not simply straw-man the interpretations that he disagrees with; he states the various sides and their reasoning and tells the reader why he prefers the side that he does. He is also balanced in his use of secondary literature, which—in Galatians—is mountainous; he does a great job of wading through the many piles of books and articles and only bringing that which is pertinent to the reader’s attention. Oftentimes commentators try to flex their research in the footnotes (I certainly have been guilty of this!); Gupta allows the text to be the star of the commentary (as it should be). There were a few times where I thought the literature warranted more discussion than we got (one example of this is the identity of Paul’s opponents in Galatia), but on the whole I think it is good for a commentary to point readers to the text, not the scholarship.
This commentary is also insightful. This will be an aide to teachers and preachers as they work through this weighty and difficult letter for years to come. This is true of Gupta’s exegesis, which should come to no surprise to anyone who is familiar with Gupta’s writing and scholarship in the past. It is also true of the “live the story” sections, a feature of this commentary series where the author turns the attention towards our churches and our culture and discusses how to live in light of the text. The insightful nature of this commentary is also due in part to Gupta’s capability as a writer; he knows how to turn a phrase and make his writing memorable and even quotable. When the commentary came in the mail my wife asked is I was really going to read it cover to cover. I said yes, not only because I am a nerd, but because I know that Gupta is engaging, incisive, and insightful.
In short, this commentary is worth the time and investment for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of Galatians. If you are a student with a paper, a professor with a class, a pastor with a pulpit, or a non-professional with some curiosity, this book is for you.
*I was on the launch team for this commentary, so I received access to the book early in exchange for my honest review.
This commentary is balanced because Gupta does not simply straw-man the interpretations that he disagrees with; he states the various sides and their reasoning and tells the reader why he prefers the side that he does. He is also balanced in his use of secondary literature, which—in Galatians—is mountainous; he does a great job of wading through the many piles of books and articles and only bringing that which is pertinent to the reader’s attention. Oftentimes commentators try to flex their research in the footnotes (I certainly have been guilty of this!); Gupta allows the text to be the star of the commentary (as it should be). There were a few times where I thought the literature warranted more discussion than we got (one example of this is the identity of Paul’s opponents in Galatia), but on the whole I think it is good for a commentary to point readers to the text, not the scholarship.
This commentary is also insightful. This will be an aide to teachers and preachers as they work through this weighty and difficult letter for years to come. This is true of Gupta’s exegesis, which should come to no surprise to anyone who is familiar with Gupta’s writing and scholarship in the past. It is also true of the “live the story” sections, a feature of this commentary series where the author turns the attention towards our churches and our culture and discusses how to live in light of the text. The insightful nature of this commentary is also due in part to Gupta’s capability as a writer; he knows how to turn a phrase and make his writing memorable and even quotable. When the commentary came in the mail my wife asked is I was really going to read it cover to cover. I said yes, not only because I am a nerd, but because I know that Gupta is engaging, incisive, and insightful.
In short, this commentary is worth the time and investment for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of Galatians. If you are a student with a paper, a professor with a class, a pastor with a pulpit, or a non-professional with some curiosity, this book is for you.
*I was on the launch team for this commentary, so I received access to the book early in exchange for my honest review.
November 15, 2023
Nijay Gupta’s Galatians commentary in the Story of God Bible Commentary series is a must own. Gupta does a fantastic job clarifying the gospel issue that Paul is addressing. Galatians is perfect for this series and Gupta does us a great service in his introduction with the background stories at play in Galatians.
Most commentaries are kept on a shelf and pulled for reference (I’m guilty of this), this one however reads well—you want to read it in its entirety. I found myself after several chapters saying, “yes, this make sense!” I think this comes for a scholar who has clearly spent time with Paul, is able to clearly articulate what’s going on, and wants to help us read Galatians today well.
I did my doctoral work on slavery in the New Testament, and I feel like Gupta handling of the slave/ free sections throughout the letter, along with Paul’s language in Gal 1.10 to be especially helpful.
Gupta extensive work on Paul’s faith language is evident as the reader seeks to understand Paul argument in this letter. Gupta takes a more expansive view of justification saying, “when he [Paul] mentions pistis Christou, he is talking about the whole package of what it means to attach ourselves and become united with God in and through Jesus Christ” (p 85).
Gupta presents co-crucifixion language in Gal 2.20 with fresh insight. Saying in these verses, "we get the most concentrated articulation of the heart of Paul's gospel: made right by faith in Jesus Christ, co-crucifixion with Christ, and new life given through the loving self-giving of Christ" (p. 74). And when discussing Gal 4.19 the distinction is that “this is about Christ taking shape in them” instead of asking them to become something else like he does in Romans, 2 Corinthians, and Philippians.
I am looking forward to more scholars adequately highlighting the “sharing” and “union” language in Paul and what this cruciform, cross-shaped life means for believers today. Bible nerds, get this book.
Disclosure:
I wrote this review based on an advance reading copy that the publisher sent me after I preordered the book from the publisher. I am also a graduate of Northern Seminary where Gupta is a professor.
Most commentaries are kept on a shelf and pulled for reference (I’m guilty of this), this one however reads well—you want to read it in its entirety. I found myself after several chapters saying, “yes, this make sense!” I think this comes for a scholar who has clearly spent time with Paul, is able to clearly articulate what’s going on, and wants to help us read Galatians today well.
I did my doctoral work on slavery in the New Testament, and I feel like Gupta handling of the slave/ free sections throughout the letter, along with Paul’s language in Gal 1.10 to be especially helpful.
Gupta extensive work on Paul’s faith language is evident as the reader seeks to understand Paul argument in this letter. Gupta takes a more expansive view of justification saying, “when he [Paul] mentions pistis Christou, he is talking about the whole package of what it means to attach ourselves and become united with God in and through Jesus Christ” (p 85).
Gupta presents co-crucifixion language in Gal 2.20 with fresh insight. Saying in these verses, "we get the most concentrated articulation of the heart of Paul's gospel: made right by faith in Jesus Christ, co-crucifixion with Christ, and new life given through the loving self-giving of Christ" (p. 74). And when discussing Gal 4.19 the distinction is that “this is about Christ taking shape in them” instead of asking them to become something else like he does in Romans, 2 Corinthians, and Philippians.
I am looking forward to more scholars adequately highlighting the “sharing” and “union” language in Paul and what this cruciform, cross-shaped life means for believers today. Bible nerds, get this book.
Disclosure:
I wrote this review based on an advance reading copy that the publisher sent me after I preordered the book from the publisher. I am also a graduate of Northern Seminary where Gupta is a professor.
November 14, 2023
Let me preface this review with the fact that I am not someone that sits and reads a commentary, so this was out of my usual reading experience. But I must say, this was a grand experience and let me tell you why!
I really resonate with good organization, and I liked the way that Nijay Gupta chooses to organize his presentation of the material. First, he placed the scripture passage he was covering. I liked the way he broke it up into smaller passages.
Next, the author presented a brief overview of the passage, so you could see the big picture before he broke it down.
Explain the Story was exactly that – he broke down the passage and began his commentary on the meaning of the passage. He uses lots of scripture references and uses other references to give you different angles to consider. After presenting these cases he would tell you where he tended to lie and why.
Live the Story brought the whole discussion down to – what are you going to do about it now? It made it meaningful and challenging!
I appreciated the fact that the material was presented in a very understandable manner. There were deep concepts considered but his down-to-earth language made it feel easy to follow. What you can follow – you can live.
I can see this book appealing to the casual reader to a reference work for pastors and everything in between. Its work in a believer’s life cannot be understated.
Congratulations on a work that is understandable and life changing.
I participated in the Launch Team and was provided with a pre-copy, but this review and my thoughts are my own thoughts and my own honest reactions to the book.
I really resonate with good organization, and I liked the way that Nijay Gupta chooses to organize his presentation of the material. First, he placed the scripture passage he was covering. I liked the way he broke it up into smaller passages.
Next, the author presented a brief overview of the passage, so you could see the big picture before he broke it down.
Explain the Story was exactly that – he broke down the passage and began his commentary on the meaning of the passage. He uses lots of scripture references and uses other references to give you different angles to consider. After presenting these cases he would tell you where he tended to lie and why.
Live the Story brought the whole discussion down to – what are you going to do about it now? It made it meaningful and challenging!
I appreciated the fact that the material was presented in a very understandable manner. There were deep concepts considered but his down-to-earth language made it feel easy to follow. What you can follow – you can live.
I can see this book appealing to the casual reader to a reference work for pastors and everything in between. Its work in a believer’s life cannot be understated.
Congratulations on a work that is understandable and life changing.
I participated in the Launch Team and was provided with a pre-copy, but this review and my thoughts are my own thoughts and my own honest reactions to the book.
November 14, 2023
Disclosures: I received digital early access to this commentary in exchange for my honest review. The Author and Series Editors are former professors of mine.
I have to start off by saying, I'm a huge fan of the Story of God Commentary series as a whole. I loved McKnight's volume, Sermon on the Mount, as well as Gombis's volume, Mark (2). The series really does take the latest scholarship in Biblical studies and apply it to the text in a way that brings forward the Story of God (see what I did there). Each volume is imminently practical and is perfect for the pastor who is preparing for an upcoming sermon or for anyone who's looking to dig in a little deeper than your typical bible study.
Nijay Gupta's entry into the series on Galatians is no exception to the above. Nijay is a skilled writer who makes even complicated subjects accessible to the reader. He handles the text of Galatians with skill and grace and highlights themes that are often overlooked in your typical Galatians bible study. I try to read everything Nijay publishes (now I just wish he would slow down a little so that I can catch up) and this commentary helps to cement my commitment to that effort.
I have to start off by saying, I'm a huge fan of the Story of God Commentary series as a whole. I loved McKnight's volume, Sermon on the Mount, as well as Gombis's volume, Mark (2). The series really does take the latest scholarship in Biblical studies and apply it to the text in a way that brings forward the Story of God (see what I did there). Each volume is imminently practical and is perfect for the pastor who is preparing for an upcoming sermon or for anyone who's looking to dig in a little deeper than your typical bible study.
Nijay Gupta's entry into the series on Galatians is no exception to the above. Nijay is a skilled writer who makes even complicated subjects accessible to the reader. He handles the text of Galatians with skill and grace and highlights themes that are often overlooked in your typical Galatians bible study. I try to read everything Nijay publishes (now I just wish he would slow down a little so that I can catch up) and this commentary helps to cement my commitment to that effort.
November 22, 2023
When I first saw the opportunity to join the launch team for Nijay Gupta’s Story of God Bible Commentary on Galatians, I was intrigued but a little hesitant because I wasn’t sure if I’m in the target audience. I’m not a scholar and haven’t gone to seminary, and don’t make a regular habit of reading through Bible commentaries. But I’m so glad that I did!
Gupta skillfully breaks down this meaty little epistle into easy to digest explanations and masterfully weaves in every day applications throughout. This book made me see Galatians in a whole new light, and deeply enhanced my understanding of the major themes as well as some of the trickier passages. As other reviewers have mentioned, this book offers a great balance of weightier theological insights and easy-to-understand application for a modern reader.
I’m thankful for all of the work that went into creating this resource, and highly recommend it to anyone who loves studying Scripture—whether you see yourself as a scholar or not!
Disclaimer: I was on the launch team and received an advanced copy of the book, but this review is my own honest opinion.
Gupta skillfully breaks down this meaty little epistle into easy to digest explanations and masterfully weaves in every day applications throughout. This book made me see Galatians in a whole new light, and deeply enhanced my understanding of the major themes as well as some of the trickier passages. As other reviewers have mentioned, this book offers a great balance of weightier theological insights and easy-to-understand application for a modern reader.
I’m thankful for all of the work that went into creating this resource, and highly recommend it to anyone who loves studying Scripture—whether you see yourself as a scholar or not!
Disclaimer: I was on the launch team and received an advanced copy of the book, but this review is my own honest opinion.
September 5, 2024
See my fuller review on SpoiledMilks (6/7/24). Galatians is a short book with a tight argument, so it requires a lot of work and consideration to understand Paul. Gupta digs deeply into the text and how it has been understood in order to clearly deliver Paul’s message in Galatians: “Fear can hold you prisoner, but hope can set you free.” A few dominant themes in Galatians are: family; freedom; faith; the truth of the gospel, the Spirit, and the cruciform life; and love and the law of Christ. Recommended? Gupta has an incredible depth of knowledge of the ancient world. I would recommend this commentary to anyone who wants to learn more about Galatians, whether student, teacher, pastor, or layperson. Gupta is engaging and a clear-thinker, and he has written a commentary that is a pleasure—not a pain—to read. Highly recommended. Disclosure: I received this book free from Zondervan Academic.
November 15, 2023
This is an extremely readable and helpful commentary on Galatians. True to the series title (The Story of God Bible Commentary), Dr. Gupta has a knack for bringing the text and context to life and bringing the reader into the story of Galatians. He gives countless useful analogies to aid the modern reader to better appreciate the ancient issues concerning the early church. I would recommend reading this commentary cover to cover as opposed to treating it like a typical commentary where you just look up specific references. For those looking for more technical treatment, there are plenty of references given to direct further research. I also appreciated how the author would be clear about his position on given issues while outlining the spectrum of alternative views.
November 15, 2023
Dr. Gupta's commentary is the perfect blend of scholarly analysis and accessible language. He writes like he's talking to a friend--or a group of friends--interested in the contextual nuances of Paul's letter. His exegetical analysis pulls you into the power of words and the depths of the original language(s) of Scripture. It's a refreshing change from many commentaries I've read where exegesis segments are painfully difficult to get through.
What I found particularly helpful were the "Live the Story" sections in each chapter which connect the explanation and analysis with the lived experiences of the reader. They were encouraging moments that I deeply appreciated. As a pastor, I'm certain I will be using this book (and quoting many of its lines) for years to come.
What I found particularly helpful were the "Live the Story" sections in each chapter which connect the explanation and analysis with the lived experiences of the reader. They were encouraging moments that I deeply appreciated. As a pastor, I'm certain I will be using this book (and quoting many of its lines) for years to come.
November 14, 2023
This is an excellent commentary that isn't like other commentaries. Dr. Gupta's work in Galatians takes you deep into the text by exploring the theological and practical applications of Galatians. I appreciate his fresh insights into the epistle from St. Paul. The text format is unique, too...this series by Zondervan (The Story of God Bible Commentary) has you exploring the biblical writings so that you understand the ancient and modern cultural context from Galatians. I found this to be an enjoyable read and will refer to Dr. Gupta's often in my Bible studies. Highly recommended!
November 14, 2023
Wow, Nijay Gupta really set the bar high with this new edition to the Story of God commentary series. Gupta's Galatians is a magnificent mix of scholarly work and down-to-earth application and practicality. This commentary can be read and digested by everyone from the pew to the pulpit, the student to the professor, and everyone else in between. If you are looking to dig deeper into Galatians for personal devotion, sermon prep, a Bible study group, or even just for fun, this commentary hits on all those levels. I really cannot recommend this commentary enough! You won't be disappointed!
November 14, 2023
I've never heard Galatians explained so well, in such understandable language. By inviting us to explore Galatians as a story rather than a mere discourse, Dr. Gupta connects to the threads of the contextual back-story throughout the entire letter, pushing the plot ever forward, into our own lives today.
Dr. Gupta facilitates this by segmenting Galatians into 13 passages. First we LISTEN to the story that is happening in that passage. Then we follow along as he EXPLAINS the story and then invites us to LIVE it.
Dr. Gupta facilitates this by segmenting Galatians into 13 passages. First we LISTEN to the story that is happening in that passage. Then we follow along as he EXPLAINS the story and then invites us to LIVE it.
October 25, 2024
This is an excellent introductory-level commentary on Galatians. I especially enjoyed the 'Live the Story' section, which, knowing Gupta's pastoral sensitivities, was one of the reasons I picked up this commentary. That said, considering the recent impact of Barclay's 'gift perspective' in Pauline studies, I was expecting more explicit engagement with Paul and the Gift (I am looking forward to Barclay's upcoming commentary on Galatians for the ICT series). Despite this, I found the commentary both insightful and highly accessible.
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November 14, 2023This commentary brought to the surface things for me that have been hidden under the surface. An underlying quest for acceptance through works. Nijay Gupta with his conversational style approach and easy to read examples brings to life the beauty of Galatians. Liberation through Jesus Christ's self-emptying, self-sacrificial love. I recommend this commentary to anyone who struggles with freedom from works to liberation in Christ.
November 14, 2023
Very good commentary on Galatians. Want to know why this letter was written? Read this. Looking for an easy-to-follow layout and want to be able to apply what you've learned? Read this. What to be challenged by a very bright, yet humble theologian? Read this. The application section with each chapter, "Live the story," was one of my favorite parts. Great tool for understanding Paul's letter to the church in Galatia.
CCoit
CCoit
November 20, 2023
Gupta offers a commentary that is both rich in exegetical skill AND in pastoral application. Both scholars and pastors will find it accessible, informative, and enlightening as they study the critical New Testament book of Galatians. With such a strong understanding of first-century historical and cultural backgrounds, Gupta is well-primed to unpack and explain Paul's most passionate letter for today's church.
October 20, 2024
4.5. An excellent commentary that maintains a balance between technical/academic and accessibility/application. Galatians is one of the most revolutionary books in the entire Bible and Gupta shows immense skill in both accurately identifying Paul's argument and making a connection between the first century and today, showing how Galatians is incredibly relevant for our divided church. Highly recommend.
November 14, 2023
Dr. Gupta has done an excellent job diving into the study of Galatians in a deep, sound, yet approachable way. This is a great commentary if you are like me and a bit newer to the world of commentaries, and also deep and rich for anyone desiring a deeper study! I highly recommend adding this to your tools for studying God’s Word!
November 21, 2023
Gupta has done a remarkable job of digging into the text for the book of Galatians. you must get yourself a copy of this book to add it to your library for later study and reference
August 28, 2024
An excellent commentary that every pastor should own.
February 20, 2024
Nijay Gupta is a world class Biblical Scholar with a true heart for pastors. This commentary does a great job of illuminating the text of Galatians, engaging current biblical scholarship and providing relevant commentary for preachers and teachers of the Word.
Gupta spends time with the story around the letter to the Galatians, making the text come to life for the reader. This would be a great addition to any preacher or teacher's bookshelf.
Gupta spends time with the story around the letter to the Galatians, making the text come to life for the reader. This would be a great addition to any preacher or teacher's bookshelf.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews