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God's Word for You
Galatians For You
First in a new series of expository guides to the Bible, Timothy Keller' Galatians For You closely examines the text of Galatians in an expositional, engaging and applied way. Tim Keller's trademark gift of clear explanation and compelling insights make this a uniquely flexible resource. This expository guide to Galatians will help Bible teachers, devotional readers and anyone with an interest in the book of Galatians.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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1911 people want to read
About the author
Timothy J. Keller
396 books5,728 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Timothy Keller was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 with his wife, Kathy, and three young sons. For over twenty years he has led a diverse congregation of young professionals that has grown to a weekly attendance of over 5,000.
He was also Chairman of Redeemer City to City, which starts new churches in New York and other global cities, and publishes books and resources for faith in an urban culture. In over ten years they have helped to launch over 250 churches in 48 cities. More recently, Dr. Keller’s books, including the New York Times bestselling The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, have sold over 1 million copies and been translated into 15 languages.
Christianity Today has said, “Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”
Dr. Keller was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He previously served as the pastor of West Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, and Director of Mercy Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America.
Timothy Keller was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 with his wife, Kathy, and three young sons. For over twenty years he has led a diverse congregation of young professionals that has grown to a weekly attendance of over 5,000.
He was also Chairman of Redeemer City to City, which starts new churches in New York and other global cities, and publishes books and resources for faith in an urban culture. In over ten years they have helped to launch over 250 churches in 48 cities. More recently, Dr. Keller’s books, including the New York Times bestselling The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, have sold over 1 million copies and been translated into 15 languages.
Christianity Today has said, “Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”
Dr. Keller was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He previously served as the pastor of West Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, and Director of Mercy Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
October 13, 2015
So far, Tim does a pretty good job bringing out heart dynamics a la Jack Miller, but he is still dismissive of new scholarship on Galatians emphasizing the contextual nature of the letter. Through chapter 2, he has missed a lot of details in the text, even if he has done a decent job re-contextualized the message into our context.
He still is pretty driven by a Lutheran "works-righteousness" reading of Judaism, though, which is problematic.
For someone as missiologically informed as Tim Keller, I would have expected a more careful delineation between our contemporary Christian reading of Judaism (which, from the perspective of the cross of Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit, recognizes returning to Judaism as a failure to remain faithful to YHWH, and thus can somewhat fairly call the judaizing gospel "works righteousness") and a reading of Judaism from 1st century, which wouldn't have been wrestling with works-righteousness but with wrestling to understand what remained at the center of their identity as YHWH's people, given the new situation of Jesus's resurrection & the emergence of his church.
The Jewish Christians weren't trying to earn their way into God's favor; Torah was God's *grace* to them. Paul was trying not to argue that they were being legalists, but that they hadn't fully understood JESUS. They hadn't actually gone all the way in embracing who Jesus was and how he fulfilled Israel in God's redemptive purposes, so that they could no longer go back towards defining Israel in the old way. Jesus was now the way Israel was defined. In other words, Paul is saying that the Jewish Christians weren't taking JESUS seriously; Jesus was placed within their old covenantal-nomistic system. Law was primary, not Jesus. Paul wants to show them that Jesus is the conclusion of Israel's story,. and that because of that, Jewish practices are no longer necessary for being included among God's covenant people.
// after reading: very disappointed. I usually find Keller so illuminating, especially when he is writing topically. His exegesis of Biblical text, here, was constrained by systematic-theological categories that he was reading into the text. Though I always appreciate his way of pastorally drawing out heart-motivation implications of the good news, this book is essentially that - a psychologized reading of Galatians, which in the end, I think, fails to do justice to the real occasion and purpose of the letter. It jumps too quickly past the original contextual meaning of the letter to try to address contemporary audiences & by doing so misses the deeper point of Galatians.
He still is pretty driven by a Lutheran "works-righteousness" reading of Judaism, though, which is problematic.
For someone as missiologically informed as Tim Keller, I would have expected a more careful delineation between our contemporary Christian reading of Judaism (which, from the perspective of the cross of Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit, recognizes returning to Judaism as a failure to remain faithful to YHWH, and thus can somewhat fairly call the judaizing gospel "works righteousness") and a reading of Judaism from 1st century, which wouldn't have been wrestling with works-righteousness but with wrestling to understand what remained at the center of their identity as YHWH's people, given the new situation of Jesus's resurrection & the emergence of his church.
The Jewish Christians weren't trying to earn their way into God's favor; Torah was God's *grace* to them. Paul was trying not to argue that they were being legalists, but that they hadn't fully understood JESUS. They hadn't actually gone all the way in embracing who Jesus was and how he fulfilled Israel in God's redemptive purposes, so that they could no longer go back towards defining Israel in the old way. Jesus was now the way Israel was defined. In other words, Paul is saying that the Jewish Christians weren't taking JESUS seriously; Jesus was placed within their old covenantal-nomistic system. Law was primary, not Jesus. Paul wants to show them that Jesus is the conclusion of Israel's story,. and that because of that, Jewish practices are no longer necessary for being included among God's covenant people.
// after reading: very disappointed. I usually find Keller so illuminating, especially when he is writing topically. His exegesis of Biblical text, here, was constrained by systematic-theological categories that he was reading into the text. Though I always appreciate his way of pastorally drawing out heart-motivation implications of the good news, this book is essentially that - a psychologized reading of Galatians, which in the end, I think, fails to do justice to the real occasion and purpose of the letter. It jumps too quickly past the original contextual meaning of the letter to try to address contemporary audiences & by doing so misses the deeper point of Galatians.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2023
I rated this book as amazing first and foremost because our God is amazing!! Tim Keller so clearly and simply explains the gospel as revealed in the book of Galatians, and as I begin to better comprehend and understand God's love and grace lavished on me, I see how it should radically change my life. It is a work in process, and I am thankful for the wisdom gleaned from this book and from the blessing of Tim Keller and his faithful work to advance the Kingdom. To God be the glory!
April 13, 2018
Changed my life. After believing I was a Christian for 22 years and being so exhausted and disheartened with the burden of maintaining my salvation (though I wouldn’t have used those words), God used this and other things to open my eyes. I was only a couple chapters in and not necessarily thinking I needed saving when, on a regular ol’ day walking my dog in the morning I was awakened by the Spirit and could see it is by God’s grace alone I am saved. I devoured the rest of the book with new eyes, but it was within the first few chapters I realized I had believed a false gospel, one that said my salvation partially depended on me, as well as my justification before God. I am still going back through it slowly with my husband, but now as a secure, saved by grace, believer.
“And you were DEAD in the trespasses and sins of which you once walked...But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great loved with which he loved us, even when we were DEAD in our trespasses made us alive together with Christ-by GRACE you have been saved-and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...for by GRACE you have been saved, through faith. And this is not your own doing; IT IS THE WORK OF GOD, NOT A RESULT OF WORKS, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2
Yes, I know I’m using an Ephesians quote reviewing a book about Galatians, but it’s connected. It’s the gospel. Galatians is about reminding believers what the gospel they were taught was and warning them not to alter it in any way.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5
Adding to the gospel or altering it and trying to live by a false gospel dependent on your works is slavery. It’s exhausting. I know because I lived it. But God, in His rich mercy helped me see the lies I had believed. I confessed that I had been adding my own works to God’s gospel (which nullified it) and fully accepted that I can do nothing to save myself or make myself right with God and that Jesus has done it all. My burden was lifted and I am free!
May everyone who studies Galatians with this experience the freedom of the true gospel of Jesus and be transformed no matter where they are in their faith.
“And you were DEAD in the trespasses and sins of which you once walked...But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great loved with which he loved us, even when we were DEAD in our trespasses made us alive together with Christ-by GRACE you have been saved-and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...for by GRACE you have been saved, through faith. And this is not your own doing; IT IS THE WORK OF GOD, NOT A RESULT OF WORKS, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2
Yes, I know I’m using an Ephesians quote reviewing a book about Galatians, but it’s connected. It’s the gospel. Galatians is about reminding believers what the gospel they were taught was and warning them not to alter it in any way.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5
Adding to the gospel or altering it and trying to live by a false gospel dependent on your works is slavery. It’s exhausting. I know because I lived it. But God, in His rich mercy helped me see the lies I had believed. I confessed that I had been adding my own works to God’s gospel (which nullified it) and fully accepted that I can do nothing to save myself or make myself right with God and that Jesus has done it all. My burden was lifted and I am free!
May everyone who studies Galatians with this experience the freedom of the true gospel of Jesus and be transformed no matter where they are in their faith.
October 1, 2025
Gospel all the way through. I continually need encouragement like this.
November 29, 2023
Read through this for my Bible study with the sophomore guys this fall. Highly recommend it for anyone to read not just for commentary. I think every time I do a deep dive on a book like this I say it’s my favorite book of the Bible and it’s hard to not say the same now about Galatians. Such a good book for reminding Christians what the Gospel is and how living out of the freedom of the Gospel is what transforms our lives. If I end up being a campus minister I would love to do a series on Galatians one semester.
December 10, 2025
Great approachable look at Galatians! A great book. Read this and listen to Matt Chandler's sermon series on Galatians and be ready for a life changing event! Highest recommendation!!!
August 16, 2022
Not a highly technical commentary, but a good explanation of the whole epistle.
March 20, 2013
Book Review - Galatians For You by Timothy Keller
I don't think I've ever sat down and read a commentary straight through, from cover to cover.
Until now.
My usual mode of operation, when it comes to using biblical commentaries, is to reference the specific sections on the passages I need. And I have several different series of commentaries on my shelves, giving me a lot of reference material for Bible study.
But Galatians For You, by Timothy Keller is different. It's a commentary. But it's also a devotional. It's concise and factual. But it's also challenging and thought provoking.
I sat down and read the first five chapters in one evening, and finished it the next day. I was simply astonished and the way Keller transformed the book of Galatians in my mind from one of the smaller letters of Paul to a strategic presentation of the Gospel. There are complexities and depths that I'd never experienced in Paul's six short chapters. And Keller presents them in a fashion that establishes the purpose of Galatians in a simple and engaging way.
Recently, I started a new Bible study habit. I started hand writing my own copy of the Scriptures. One of the first books I copied was Galatians. And I learned more about this letter than I'd ever know before. And now, after reading Galatians For You, Galatians is quickly becoming one of my favorite sections of the New Testament, simply because I understand it so much better then ever before.
Galatians For You is the first book in a new series of Bible study tools from The Good Book Company. And the purpose of this series is three fold:
* READ: Galatians For You will guide you in understanding the letter much better than you ever have before.
* FEED: The books in this series are designed with a devotional intent, helping you deepen your relationship with God as you deepen your understanding of his Word.
* LEAD: With a verse by verse explanation laid out in a simple to read format, this book is an excellent resource and tool that you can use to teach others the truths of God's Word.
I was very impressed with the simplicity of Galatians For You. I'm pretty excited to see the next books that will be published in this series. I'm excited because they are great tools to use in ministry. But I'm looking forward even more to the challenge of deepening my own personal understanding of God and his Word.
I loved Galatians For You, and am excited to see what's next in the series. I highly encourage you to check it out. Grab a copy and read it. You may end up like me, unable to put it down. If that's the case, take the time after you finish it to reread it more slowly. Who know just how much you can learn from such a tool?
Paul wrote a significant portion of the New Testament. Which of his letters do you like the best? Why? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
I don't think I've ever sat down and read a commentary straight through, from cover to cover.
Until now.
My usual mode of operation, when it comes to using biblical commentaries, is to reference the specific sections on the passages I need. And I have several different series of commentaries on my shelves, giving me a lot of reference material for Bible study.
But Galatians For You, by Timothy Keller is different. It's a commentary. But it's also a devotional. It's concise and factual. But it's also challenging and thought provoking.
I sat down and read the first five chapters in one evening, and finished it the next day. I was simply astonished and the way Keller transformed the book of Galatians in my mind from one of the smaller letters of Paul to a strategic presentation of the Gospel. There are complexities and depths that I'd never experienced in Paul's six short chapters. And Keller presents them in a fashion that establishes the purpose of Galatians in a simple and engaging way.
Recently, I started a new Bible study habit. I started hand writing my own copy of the Scriptures. One of the first books I copied was Galatians. And I learned more about this letter than I'd ever know before. And now, after reading Galatians For You, Galatians is quickly becoming one of my favorite sections of the New Testament, simply because I understand it so much better then ever before.
Galatians For You is the first book in a new series of Bible study tools from The Good Book Company. And the purpose of this series is three fold:
* READ: Galatians For You will guide you in understanding the letter much better than you ever have before.
* FEED: The books in this series are designed with a devotional intent, helping you deepen your relationship with God as you deepen your understanding of his Word.
* LEAD: With a verse by verse explanation laid out in a simple to read format, this book is an excellent resource and tool that you can use to teach others the truths of God's Word.
I was very impressed with the simplicity of Galatians For You. I'm pretty excited to see the next books that will be published in this series. I'm excited because they are great tools to use in ministry. But I'm looking forward even more to the challenge of deepening my own personal understanding of God and his Word.
I loved Galatians For You, and am excited to see what's next in the series. I highly encourage you to check it out. Grab a copy and read it. You may end up like me, unable to put it down. If that's the case, take the time after you finish it to reread it more slowly. Who know just how much you can learn from such a tool?
Paul wrote a significant portion of the New Testament. Which of his letters do you like the best? Why? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
September 28, 2020
A really helpful book to read in your devotional time. Not an in depth commentary, but fantastic on application
November 12, 2020
Clear, concise, challenging and comforting with the sweetness of the gospel evident throughout. Including a helpful appendix on the dangers and benefits of the New Perspective on Paul. This commentary made me want to do a small group study on Galatians!
July 21, 2023
Excellent. Highly recommend. Really clear and accessible. I used this to help me lead a group through Galatians but am planning on buying other books from this series to use as a part of my personal devotionals.
June 27, 2024
No notes. If you want a deep dive into Paul’s letter to the Galatians, this is the book for you.
May 12, 2023
Absolut mindblowing. Ein MUSS, dieses Buch. Tim Keller ist und bleibt mein Lieblingsauthor.
April 6, 2021
What a great resource! I used this for a semester-long study with college students and it spurred a lot of meaningful discussion. It's easy to read, faithful to the text (for the most part), and the format (2 parts per lesson with reflection questions) is perfect for anyone wanting to lead a Bible study. It would also be helpful for personal study as well. Looking forward to more books in this series!
April 18, 2020
Excellent again.
May 22, 2019
Me, reading Galatians: "Hmm. Okay, I think I get the point."
Tim Keller on the same verse: "THIS VERSE IS ABSOLUTELY EXPLOSIVE!"
I, for whatever reason, have never been a great fan of Paul. I say this knowing fully that I am wrong to feel this way, just like I knew in college it was immature of me to dislike salads. But alas, Paul's writing style (or the translator's?) often makes me zone out, despite my best efforts.
That's why Tim Keller is such a valuable guide to Paul. He LOVES this letter, and you can sense his (professionally expressed, academic and intellectual) enthusiasm for every verse. Having him take you on a tour of Galatians is like having someone who knows their city well and loves it ardently show you around. In Galatians, Keller points things out you'd never notice, highlights things you've gotten too familiar with to appreciate, and connects things that you could never see the link between before.
Thanks to this book, NOW I GET why every Christian loves Galatians. Keller's by now familiar verbiage, in which he labels both legalism and license "self-salvation projects," really connected Galatians' concerns to my daily life. And Galatians really IS so mind-blowingly explosive that it's hard to make it stick in my feeble brain! These familiar Christian truths and verses, collecting dust on my mental shelf, were actually priceless trophies, like The Antiques Roadshow (or at least I think so, since I've never seen the show).
I'll be keeping my marked-all-over copy of this book as a guide whenever I return to Galatians. I will also add that this book had great synergy with You Who? Why You Matter and How to Deal With It. Reading both at once, I found their arguments reinforcing each other. Their combined effect was completely transforming in my life.
Tim Keller on the same verse: "THIS VERSE IS ABSOLUTELY EXPLOSIVE!"
I, for whatever reason, have never been a great fan of Paul. I say this knowing fully that I am wrong to feel this way, just like I knew in college it was immature of me to dislike salads. But alas, Paul's writing style (or the translator's?) often makes me zone out, despite my best efforts.
That's why Tim Keller is such a valuable guide to Paul. He LOVES this letter, and you can sense his (professionally expressed, academic and intellectual) enthusiasm for every verse. Having him take you on a tour of Galatians is like having someone who knows their city well and loves it ardently show you around. In Galatians, Keller points things out you'd never notice, highlights things you've gotten too familiar with to appreciate, and connects things that you could never see the link between before.
Thanks to this book, NOW I GET why every Christian loves Galatians. Keller's by now familiar verbiage, in which he labels both legalism and license "self-salvation projects," really connected Galatians' concerns to my daily life. And Galatians really IS so mind-blowingly explosive that it's hard to make it stick in my feeble brain! These familiar Christian truths and verses, collecting dust on my mental shelf, were actually priceless trophies, like The Antiques Roadshow (or at least I think so, since I've never seen the show).
I'll be keeping my marked-all-over copy of this book as a guide whenever I return to Galatians. I will also add that this book had great synergy with You Who? Why You Matter and How to Deal With It. Reading both at once, I found their arguments reinforcing each other. Their combined effect was completely transforming in my life.
April 26, 2025
I used this in my own quiet times while studying the book of Galatians. The first day I would read the passage a few times through and then gleam from the passage as much as I could on my own. The next day I would work through the study book that I had bought years ago by the good book company for Galatians and then after I felt I had picked the passage clean would then read the relevant chapter in this book. Tim Keller has such a depth to his teaching that there was invariably points that he bought out that I had missed, there were some really good explanations of parts I struggled to understand. A wonderful aid to a bible study but I would encourage anyone to do the hard work first yourself cause that is when the word really sticks.
February 20, 2019
Really loved working through this book alongside Galatians. Reading through this forced me to sit in tough to understand and complex passages in Galatians that I would have only read once and zoomed past had I not used this commentary.
Once again, I love Keller's writing style, and I love how purposeful this series and Keller are in intentionally pointing the reader to Christ and not themselves. I left this guide enjoying Galatians and God's Word more than before.
This guide is for pastors, Bible study leaders, and/or normal people as myself. I would highly recommend this guide to anyone. But Galatians more so.
Once again, I love Keller's writing style, and I love how purposeful this series and Keller are in intentionally pointing the reader to Christ and not themselves. I left this guide enjoying Galatians and God's Word more than before.
This guide is for pastors, Bible study leaders, and/or normal people as myself. I would highly recommend this guide to anyone. But Galatians more so.
April 11, 2018
Tim Keller is one of my favorite preachers and thinkers. But while this is good I would have enjoyed more listening to a sermon series on Galatians by him. Preaching is often more powerful than the written word, although there are a few preachers who are better writers than they are speakers.
(Note: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book. 3 = Very good; 4 = Outstanding {only about 5% of the books I read merit this}; 5 = All time favorites {one of these may come along every 400-500 books})
(Note: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book. 3 = Very good; 4 = Outstanding {only about 5% of the books I read merit this}; 5 = All time favorites {one of these may come along every 400-500 books})
April 12, 2021
There are about 3 chapters that I absolutely loved and reread in this book.. But having listened to Keller's preaching countless times I expected the chapters to all be equally enriching, I found the book pretty basic but in a good way, I guess I thought it would be a deep exposition of the book ...but if you've never been exposed to Keller's mind and sermons you would absolutely enjoy and find this refreshing.
I liked that each portion had questions to think through which helped in bringing the book of galatians alive and making it practical.
Overall a good book.
I liked that each portion had questions to think through which helped in bringing the book of galatians alive and making it practical.
Overall a good book.
August 24, 2021
I thought it was really good. I listened to in as an audiobook, and I could definitely tell that it would be far more impactful if you were read a physical copy. It includes questions for reflection at the end of every chapter. Taking time to write out your own answers would certainly add to the benefit of this book.
As an audiobook it's pretty much like listening to a very good expositional sermon series on the book of Galatians. Definitely worth reading, even in audio.
As an audiobook it's pretty much like listening to a very good expositional sermon series on the book of Galatians. Definitely worth reading, even in audio.
July 23, 2020
Excelente livro sobre Gálatas. Não chega a ser uma comentário expositivo, mas Tim Keller aborda o assunto de forma bem pastoral com implicações e ilustrações que nos ajudam a entender bem essa carta. Recomendo muito a leitura.
November 21, 2022
Read this book in parallel to the Galatians Study Mercy Hill just finished up. Really great insight from Timothy Keller about how to bring out the gospel even more from the text & lead and equip others in their own understanding.
January 4, 2018
Challenging. Clear, concise, clarifying. Great questions to ponder at the end of each chapter.
September 9, 2020
This is a great tool for going deeper into the Word on your own or with a group.
December 4, 2023
Excellent for youth bible studies.
January 9, 2025
i now see God’s grace from an entirely new perspective. i feel as if Paul and Tim Keller have become my friends through the reading of this book and Galatians…
August 12, 2021
Clear and concise. Helpful application-heavy commentary.
March 28, 2023
Really good study for our shepherding group. Glad we used it.
November 19, 2023
This was incredibly helpful. A great resource when diving into a book of the Bible and Timothy Keller’s writing was just so easy to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews