Epistle to the Galatians

New International Greek Testament Commentary

by F.F. Bruce, Paul the Apostle

Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia was for many years a document of special interest and study for renowned New Testament scholar F. F. Bruce. This excellent volume in the New International Greek Testament Commentary series contains Bruce's mature work on that important early epistle.

Through phrase-by-phrase exegesis of the Greek text, consistent awareness of the historical and geographical context, and balanced dialogue with scores of other scholars, Bruce successfully bridges the hermeneutical gap and makes the text of Galatians come alive for both scholars and students. Based on careful historical-critical-linguistic exegesis yet primarily theological in character, this commentary places special emphasis throughout on Paul's insistence on justification before God by faith apart from works of the law, and on Paul's presentation of the Spirit as the principle of the new life in Christ.

Genres: Biblical Studies, Christian, New Testament, Reference, Theology, Nonfiction

325 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Frederick Fyvie Bruce FBA was a Biblical scholar who supported the historical reliability of the New Testament. His first book, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? (1943), was voted by the American evangelical periodical Christianity Today in 2006 as one of the top 50 books "which had shaped evangelicals".

Reviews

[Cale Manley · Rating 4 out of 5]

These past few weeks have had some slow and difficult, yet rewarding, reading. I feel a greater connection with the Apostle Paul. I feel a deeper conviction of the message of the cross and the gospel. I feel challenged and even uncomfortable. I realize how I have failed to allow the message of Galatians to liberate me from the bondage of the flesh and legalism to the life of faith and the Spirit. The writing was technical and dense. The liberal and progressive views that were presented at times stretched me. Yet, it was good for me to work through. With an open Bible I made my way through it, and I feel that I'll never be the same. The closing words of this commentary describe how I feel:

"... the letter to the Galatians, with its trumpet-call to Christian freedom, has time and again released the true gospel from the bonds in which well-meaning but misguided people have confined it so that is can once more exert its emancipating power in the life of mankind, empowering those who receive it to stand fast in the freedom with which Christ has set them free."

Now, on to the next Galatians commentary.

[Rev Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

F.F. Bruce has done it again!
I found Bruce's commentary on Colossians to be the best as I preached through that letter a few years ago in my local church. F.F. Bruce's commentary on Galatians once again surpassed all others. My Greek professor, Dr. Edgar, said that if a Bible student read one book on Galatians Bruce's commentary should be the one. I fully agree with Dr. Edgar's assessment. I found Bruce's writing to most influential and make its way into my sermons most often. His work was clearly highlighted the most of the commentaries I read. Luther wrote the most enjoyable commentary on Galatians, and Bruce wrote the most instructive. Here is my ranking of the most helpful and instructive commentaries that I read as I preached through Galatians. 1. F.F. Bruce 2. Martin Luther 3. J.M. Boice 4. Leon Morris 5. Max Anders 6. Todd Wilson

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

F. F. Bruce is brilliant of course. Perfect commentary for getting at the world of meaning behind the Greek text. This definitely helps bring the imagery of the text to life.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid interaction with the Greek text.

[Timothy Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good detailed exegetical information on the Greek text. However, it was not all that helpful in establishing an overall interpretation. Good for research papers; not so much for sermon preparation.

[Rebecca Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 211 of 2019. This classic commentary by F.F. Bruce was one of my required reads for my Galatians class, and I am only now having time to finish it over the break. Bruce takes a fairly conservative point of view as he goes verse by verse (and often phrase by phrase) through the Greek text of Galatians.

Bruce has been very influential in my study as a commentator and I always truly enjoy his work. This text is also a commentary that any scholarly work on Galatians still interacts with despite its being over 35 years old. It’s a really enjoyable commentary to work with, but it becomes overwhelming in large doses.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

For the armchair theologian: This commentary works with a Greek text and not an English one, so unless you have had the equivalent of at least two years of Koine Greek, skip it. This commentary is much easier to follow in a Greek Bible than an English one This is a scholarly commentary and not given to much by way of practical application, focusing instead on grammar and syntax.

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[David Monreal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great commentary series if you know Greek. Even though I studied Greek and translate the passage weekly it was still a challenge to read through the text and cross references often also in Greek. Having said that, Bruce is an excellent exegete and even though I didn't always agree with him, I found his presentation thorough and thought provoking.

[Mark Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

FF Bruce has a humility, knowledge and written style that come together beautifully in this commentary. His work is the best on Galatians I have read thus far (and there are a few). If you're studying Galatians and want to consult commentaries, start with this one.

[Douglas Domer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent Commentary if you are doing a deep dive into the book of Galatians. It helps if you have some knowledge of the Greek Language. Even without that knowledge it is a helpful resource. This book includes a helpful General Index and Index of Modern Authors.

[Sean McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Sean Meade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, as Bruce always is. Highly recommended.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

An advanced commentary on Galatians. There is a lot of Greek in it, which is good. But as a result, this book may be somewhat intimidating to those not comfortable with Greek. But, if someone could read past the sections they don't understand, this commentary could still be useful to those who don't understand Greek.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great commentary on Galatians. Will need a knowledge of Greek to find useful.

I wish, however, that the editors would have pulled Bruce's references out of the text and made footnotes to make the commentary more readable.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good technical commentary on Biblical book of Galatians. Interesting, intelligent, with numerous references to other scholars. Need to know Greek to read it.

[Evan Knies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of the top commentaries for the book of Galatians.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, very helpful - what you expect from F. F. Bruce.