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Preaching the Word
Galatians: Gospel-Rooted Living
What do you do when you've made a mess of things? Where do you go when you've blown it badly? How does the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ empower us to combat things like hypocrisy, pride, people-pleasing, and apostasy? Paul's letter to the Galatians tells us what we need to know in these situations as he teaches us how to rely upon costly grace.
In this fresh and engaging commentary, pastor Todd Wilson invites us to look beneath the surface of controversy in Galatia to the even more fundamental issue at stake: gospel-rooted living. Combining scholarly depth with practical wisdom, he offers us a soulful commentary based on years of ministry experience and biblical reflection. Read Galatians anew with this exegetically engaged, theologically informed, and pastorally minded resource!
In this fresh and engaging commentary, pastor Todd Wilson invites us to look beneath the surface of controversy in Galatia to the even more fundamental issue at stake: gospel-rooted living. Combining scholarly depth with practical wisdom, he offers us a soulful commentary based on years of ministry experience and biblical reflection. Read Galatians anew with this exegetically engaged, theologically informed, and pastorally minded resource!
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2013
53 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Todd A. Wilson
16 books14 followersTodd Wilson (PhD, Cambridge University) is senior pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, Illinois, and the cofounder and chairman of the Center for Pastor Theologians. He is the author of Real Christian: Bearing the Marks of Authentic Faith and Galatians: Gospel-Rooted Living, the coauthor of The Pastor Theologian: Resurrecting an Ancient Vision and Pastors in the Classics, and the coeditor of Becoming a Pastor Theologian.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 20, 2025
This is my fourth book in the 'preaching the word' commentary series. I read this one alongside my daily bible reading plan (M'cheyne), which in hindsight, was hard work, as Galations only has 6 chapters, I had to finish this study in 6 days (multiple chapters devoted to each chapter of Gal.)
Galations is very complex, and the hardest book to grasp all the concepts, that I've studied so far. Wilson does a great job at putting us in the shoes of the church in Galatia and bring Pauls message to us in a modern setting. The book is set up as a series of sermons about each section of each chapter.
I learnt a lot, and took a heap of notes as follows:
1."Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness"
This is a call to restore anyone overtaken by any sin, whether it's the sin of lying or apostasy itself. To plead, to warn, to point that person back to Christ and back to grace.
2. People pleasers hide from the shame of the cross. The cross isnt just a method of execution, its a tool of humiliation. Taking up your cross means to expose yourself to humiliation.
3. Paul knows his transformed life is the most compelling case for the truth of the gospel. It's not different for us. We are our best argument
4. Pride, or what Paul calls 'confidence in the flesh' is what blinds people from their need for Christ.
5. "Only they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. 2:10"
this verse is so overlooked, but so important. Wilson had a whole chapter devoted to it. Peter and co, heard Pauls gospel and said it was 'spot on', "keep doing what you are doing with the gentiles, but remember the poor."
6. Resist the temptation to feel guilty for what we have. Guilt is not a God honouring motivation.
7. More importantly, Paul clarifies the identity of the recipient of God's promise to Abraham. Ultimately, he says, the recipient isn’t Israel, nor is it even the Church. According to this passage, the true recipient of God’s promise to Abraham is God’s single seed, Christ. “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, ‘And to offsprings,’ referring to many, but referring to one, ‘And to your offspring,’ who is Christ” (3:16).
Here, then, is the key point about God’s promises: Christ Jesus is the one true beneficiary of all of God’s promises. God has given everything to Christ. Every blessing God wants to give to the world, and to you and me, has already been given to Jesus. Thus every blessing we seek, every good thing in the world, is to be found in Christ. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Galations is very complex, and the hardest book to grasp all the concepts, that I've studied so far. Wilson does a great job at putting us in the shoes of the church in Galatia and bring Pauls message to us in a modern setting. The book is set up as a series of sermons about each section of each chapter.
I learnt a lot, and took a heap of notes as follows:
1."Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness"
This is a call to restore anyone overtaken by any sin, whether it's the sin of lying or apostasy itself. To plead, to warn, to point that person back to Christ and back to grace.
2. People pleasers hide from the shame of the cross. The cross isnt just a method of execution, its a tool of humiliation. Taking up your cross means to expose yourself to humiliation.
3. Paul knows his transformed life is the most compelling case for the truth of the gospel. It's not different for us. We are our best argument
4. Pride, or what Paul calls 'confidence in the flesh' is what blinds people from their need for Christ.
5. "Only they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. 2:10"
this verse is so overlooked, but so important. Wilson had a whole chapter devoted to it. Peter and co, heard Pauls gospel and said it was 'spot on', "keep doing what you are doing with the gentiles, but remember the poor."
6. Resist the temptation to feel guilty for what we have. Guilt is not a God honouring motivation.
7. More importantly, Paul clarifies the identity of the recipient of God's promise to Abraham. Ultimately, he says, the recipient isn’t Israel, nor is it even the Church. According to this passage, the true recipient of God’s promise to Abraham is God’s single seed, Christ. “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, ‘And to offsprings,’ referring to many, but referring to one, ‘And to your offspring,’ who is Christ” (3:16).
Here, then, is the key point about God’s promises: Christ Jesus is the one true beneficiary of all of God’s promises. God has given everything to Christ. Every blessing God wants to give to the world, and to you and me, has already been given to Jesus. Thus every blessing we seek, every good thing in the world, is to be found in Christ. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
March 21, 2018
I enjoyed reading this, very easy to follow exposition of the text, with helpful illustrations and practical applications
December 4, 2024
An excellent pastoral commentary. I love the Preaching the Word series. Kent Hughes is the series editor and frequently the author of books in this series. This series offers pastoral commentary, mixing exegetical insights with helpful application and rich illustration. The Galatians offering is authored by Todd Wilson. To my knowledge, this is Wilson's first book in this series. And it is a homerun! He frequently laid out passages in ways that were almost too smooth. I had to work hard to not allow his thoughts to overshadow my own, as he stated things so clearly and illustrated so well. I highly recommend this work for pastors and Bible teachers.
September 6, 2022
First sentence: I WOULD LIKE TO TELL you a story. It’s about a young man who ruined his life.
I definitely found this commentary on Paul's letter to the Galatians to be helpful. Galatians isn't the easiest book to read and understood. Easy to relate to at times, yes, but easy to grasp (or grasp and apply) not always. In August and September, I (will) read Galatians thirty times. In August, the assignment (for the Facebook group) was Galatians 1-3. In September, the assignment is Galatians 4-6. Most nights I read one chapter in the commentary. I thought that was a good pace. Wilson tackles the book of Galatians in sections. Some chapters cover very, very, very short sections of the book. Other chapters cover longer portions. He blends original context (history) with application. He does offer contemporary examples of how the book is still relevant.
Quotes:
From Genesis to Revelation the Word of God is a treasure trove of grace. Golden coins of comfort, costly pearls of assurance, precious jewels of promise are all found in the pages of Scripture. In fact, everything that was written in the Bible was written for us, that “through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Therefore, every time we make a mess of things, we must go back to grace by going back to the Word of God.
Deliverance from sin and from “the present evil age” comes only one way; indeed, grace itself comes only one way: through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age” (vv. 3, 4). Thus Paul drives the Galatians back to this fundamental fact: Christ gave himself for our sins. For the death of Christ alone explains the presence of grace in our lives; and the death of Christ alone opens the wellspring of salvation: justification, sanctification, glorification.
“Amen” is something we say with our heart. When we say, “Amen,” we’re more than observers; we’ve moved from being spectators to being participants. “Amen” is our way of entering into this divine drama, taking up our part, assuming our role in the story of grace called the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Until we do that, we’re simply sitting in the audience, out of the action, away from the benefits of grace. “Amen” is, then, the only entry point into the world of grace. There’s no other way in. We can’t find grace in any other way because grace is only given to those who have faith; and the voice of faith is expressed in the word “Amen.”
I challenge us all to make the following not only a New Year’s resolution but a perpetual resolution that we are determined to keep: Every time I blow it, I’ll go back to grace. I won’t ignore it, play dumb, hide, or try to pass the buck to my spouse or my boss or my mom or my dad or my neighbor or my genes or my personality or my upbringing or my financial situation! Instead I’ll look my misstep in the face and then go back to grace—to the cross, that place where Jesus Christ has already taken the blame and condemnation and guilt upon himself.
Death isn’t the goal of the cross. Life is. God’s designs go beyond crucifixion: they move inexorably toward resurrection, new life, and new creation. By sending his Son into the world, God dealt a blow to the world, so much so that he blew open a hole large enough for the new creation. The cross thus clears the way for the new creation.
I definitely found this commentary on Paul's letter to the Galatians to be helpful. Galatians isn't the easiest book to read and understood. Easy to relate to at times, yes, but easy to grasp (or grasp and apply) not always. In August and September, I (will) read Galatians thirty times. In August, the assignment (for the Facebook group) was Galatians 1-3. In September, the assignment is Galatians 4-6. Most nights I read one chapter in the commentary. I thought that was a good pace. Wilson tackles the book of Galatians in sections. Some chapters cover very, very, very short sections of the book. Other chapters cover longer portions. He blends original context (history) with application. He does offer contemporary examples of how the book is still relevant.
Quotes:
From Genesis to Revelation the Word of God is a treasure trove of grace. Golden coins of comfort, costly pearls of assurance, precious jewels of promise are all found in the pages of Scripture. In fact, everything that was written in the Bible was written for us, that “through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Therefore, every time we make a mess of things, we must go back to grace by going back to the Word of God.
Deliverance from sin and from “the present evil age” comes only one way; indeed, grace itself comes only one way: through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age” (vv. 3, 4). Thus Paul drives the Galatians back to this fundamental fact: Christ gave himself for our sins. For the death of Christ alone explains the presence of grace in our lives; and the death of Christ alone opens the wellspring of salvation: justification, sanctification, glorification.
“Amen” is something we say with our heart. When we say, “Amen,” we’re more than observers; we’ve moved from being spectators to being participants. “Amen” is our way of entering into this divine drama, taking up our part, assuming our role in the story of grace called the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Until we do that, we’re simply sitting in the audience, out of the action, away from the benefits of grace. “Amen” is, then, the only entry point into the world of grace. There’s no other way in. We can’t find grace in any other way because grace is only given to those who have faith; and the voice of faith is expressed in the word “Amen.”
I challenge us all to make the following not only a New Year’s resolution but a perpetual resolution that we are determined to keep: Every time I blow it, I’ll go back to grace. I won’t ignore it, play dumb, hide, or try to pass the buck to my spouse or my boss or my mom or my dad or my neighbor or my genes or my personality or my upbringing or my financial situation! Instead I’ll look my misstep in the face and then go back to grace—to the cross, that place where Jesus Christ has already taken the blame and condemnation and guilt upon himself.
Death isn’t the goal of the cross. Life is. God’s designs go beyond crucifixion: they move inexorably toward resurrection, new life, and new creation. By sending his Son into the world, God dealt a blow to the world, so much so that he blew open a hole large enough for the new creation. The cross thus clears the way for the new creation.
January 21, 2020
Book 12 of 2020. A look through Galatians in a paragraph by paragraph fashion. It includes a great deal of personal reflection, many examples from the author’s life as well as from books and other media. It’s really a great overall commentary for pastors and laymen alike. This is one of my favorite looks at this little book.
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#theology #galatians #biblestudy #theunreadshelfproject2020 #books #bookstagram
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#theology #galatians #biblestudy #theunreadshelfproject2020 #books #bookstagram
January 7, 2021
Probably 3.5 stars if I’m thinking of this as a commentary. These are mostly sermons, which are helpful in applying the text, so 4 stars for that. Bringing Galatians to contemporary readers is difficult because of the issue Paul was correcting (circumcision). Wilson did a good job helping us connect gospel+anything = legalism/no gospel to our contemporary biases and idols.
November 16, 2020
Galatians has some tricky passages where understanding the context is vital to understanding the passage. This book has been great and explaining those passages without it becoming like an academic exercise.
July 19, 2024
It was a good, practical book but not as good as some of the others in the Preaching the Word series. I think he understands the book well and gives some good illustrations along the way. As a pastor it isn't as helpful for preaching as some others.
January 20, 2025
These series as a whole is my favorite commentary for personal Bible study. Each passage reads like a cozy sermon. I love the balance of historical/theological context, personal story, and convicting application.
June 27, 2023
I've enjoyed others in this series immensely. This one was OK but at times not very clear in it's exposition & written in a very dry way.
August 22, 2024
The "Preaching The Word" commentary series has become my favourite, and Todd Wilson's commentary on Galatians maintains the high standard of this series.
June 18, 2025
RTC - such a wonderful commentary. Wow. Humbled and convicted and blown away by the free grace of Christ and how I should then live in light of this.
December 10, 2025
Another good commentary. Also a collection of sermons. But still very useful
October 20, 2014
Excellent commentary on Galatians that both pastors and layman seeking to grow in their knowledge of the Scriptures will benefit. I found Wilson's treatment of Gal 2 and 3 especially helpful.
In Chapter 9, which comments on Gal 2:17-21, Wilson speaks to the shape of gospel rooted living and comments: "If we want others to see Jesus Christ, then we must consider what sort of radical Gospel-oriented sacrifice we can make for the good of other people, so they can see the cross of Christ in our lives. May we each live a gospel-rooted life - a cruciform life- to the glory of God!"
Galatians 3, is equally helpful, as Wilson describes our identity in Christ and that as Christ has all the blessings of God so we get them when we are in Christ.
In Chapter 9, which comments on Gal 2:17-21, Wilson speaks to the shape of gospel rooted living and comments: "If we want others to see Jesus Christ, then we must consider what sort of radical Gospel-oriented sacrifice we can make for the good of other people, so they can see the cross of Christ in our lives. May we each live a gospel-rooted life - a cruciform life- to the glory of God!"
Galatians 3, is equally helpful, as Wilson describes our identity in Christ and that as Christ has all the blessings of God so we get them when we are in Christ.
December 31, 2014
Thought I was getting a thoughtful exegesis in the mold of Kent Hughes, instead this was mostly Wilson's scaffolding, a fairly tired and familiar retreading of Galatians, with a distinct inability to go deep into the text, instead fidgeting all over Scripture and diluting anything particular Galatians might have to say in a bland evangelical Calvinism. A few chapters, on the poor and from chapter 4 were good, but any larger sense of Paul's goals were lost among the tired assumptions the author built upon the text.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews