Galatians

The NIV Application Commentary, New Testament #9

by Scot McKnight

Most Bible commentaries take us on a one-way trip from the twentieth century to the first century. But they leave us there, assuming that we can somehow make the return journey on our own. In other words, they focus on the original meaning of the passage but don't discuss its contemporary application. The information they offer is valuable but the job is only half done! The NIV Application Commentary Series helps us with both halves of the interpretative task. This new and unique series shows readers how to bring an ancient message into modern context. It explains not only what the Bible meant but also how it can speak powerfully today.

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

476 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 1995

About the author

Scot McKnight is a recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. McKnight, author or editor of forty books, is the Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lombard, IL. Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly speaks at local churches, conferences, colleges, and seminaries in the USA and abroad. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986).

Reviews

[Jared Saltz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this commentary as I preached through a series on Galatians as my primary read. For such a purpose I thought it was good, if not always excellent. The NIVAC is a difficult series in a lot of ways to write well--you're limited on how much space you can provide to textual and exegetical matters, the bridging contexts and modern application sections are always a mixed bag. But, still, I found this a fruitful read.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This commentary on Galatians from the very good NIV Application Commentary series is a great application commentary. Of course, it covers more than application. The author does a very good job of showing the background and context of the passage, as well as the details. It excels at the application part of the study of the book and passage.

I highly recommend this commentary and the series to which it is a part to anyone who wants a good, well-rounded commentary that covers all the bases.

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good reference on galatians. The author summarize this book as a book that teaches us the law of Moses came to an abrupt halt for guiding God’s people when Christ came to earth. Galatians also teaches that God has appointed the Spirit of God as the sure guide to Christian morality and that the law of Moses is now to be seen as God’s preliminary description of his will for his people but belonging to an era that is now passé.

[Jay Merrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great commentary; excellent applications.

[T.A. Gallant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think of McKnight as an evangelical disciple of James D. G. Dunn, writing for a less technical audience. There is a lot of good stuff here, and a decent entry point into Galatians if you're not a scholar and have at least moderate New Perspective tendencies.

At the same time, I think that other writers have done better with this letter, even if they are meatier (not least, Ben Witherington III's Grace in Galatia), and at times I felt that McKnight had not really wrestled with sufficient energy with some of the hardest questions raised by the letter. I'm also not thrilled by the language of "nationalism" and "cultural imperialism" as apt descriptions of the point at issue with the Judaizers, because these terms have very different connotations in our world than what Paul was really up against.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Certainly one of the best commentaries on Galatians there is. McKnight begins with textual and cultural Interpretation and moves toward contemporary application. Highly recommended!

[Douglas Warren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long winded and very repetitious.

Could scenarios intro in two pages or less and got on with the notes and commentary. Scot McKnight you are a blowhard.