The theology of the Letter to the Galatians / Bruce W. Longenecker.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Longenecker, Bruce, author.

Series:

New New Testament Theology.

New New Testament theology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Paul, the Apostle, Saint.

Paul.

Bible. Galatians--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 253 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2025.

Summary:

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul sets out an astute vision of what God has done in Christ against the backdrop of a world out-of-joint, a world engulfed in identity-distorting domination systems. Theologically profound and prophetically challenging, Galatians showcases God's initiative to empower liberation from those systems and their relational toxicity. For Paul, the union of Christ with his followers fosters flourishing forms of relational life that testify to the sovereign power of God over all competing forces. In The Theology of Galatians, respected New Testament scholar Bruce Longenecker cuts through the complexity of a notoriously opaque text, disentangling and interpreting Paul's discourse to reveal its multifaceted cosmology, its comprehensive coherence, and its penetrating analysis humanity and the divine. Offering a new interpretation of Galatians, his volume synthesizes the best of four main interpretative alternatives, finding new solutions to scholarly gridlock.

Contents:

Cover

Half-title

Reviews

Series information

Title page

Imprints page

Dedication

Table of Contents

Part I Reading the Theology of Galatians

Chapter 1 An Introduction to the Study of Galatians

The Gospel in Jeopardy

Galatians in Context

Chapter 2 An Overview of the Message of Galatians

The Focus of This Interpretation

Fine-Tuning the Focus

Terms of Engagement

Chapter 3 The Discursive Flow of Galatians

1:1-9: Outlining Stories of God, Authority, and the Galatian Communities

1:10-24: Impressions of Esteem, the Exalted Son of God, and Apostolic Legitimacy

2:1-10: Affirming ''the Truth of the Gospel'' by Apostolic Agreement

2:11-21: Affirming ''the Truth of the Gospel'' in Theological Discourse

3:1-9: The Spirit, Trust, Scripture, and the Cross, #1

3:10-14: The Spirit, Trust, Scripture, and the Cross, #2

3:15-29: Abraham's Progeny, the Torah, the Power of Sin, and Christ

4:1-11: Divine Sending and Redemption from the Slavery of the Stoicheia

4:12-20: A Theological Inventory of a Relationship

4:21-31: Abraham's Progeny and the Direct Speech of Scripture

5:1-12: Circumcision and the Work of Trust

5:13-6:10: Moral Character, the Spirit, and the Propensity toward Self-Centered Living

6:11-18: Social Reputation, the Cross, and New Creation

Part II Probing the Theology of Galatians

Chapter 4 The Problem in Layered Perspective

The Transgressive Character of Paul's Description of the Problem

Conceptualizing the Power of Sin

Conceptualizing the Stoicheia of the World

The Stoicheia as Identity Influencers

The Stoicheia under the Power of Sin

In Sum

Chapter 5 The Torah in Layered Perspective

The Mediated Torah

The Torah as Pedagogue

The Protective Role of the Torah

Unmasking the Power of Sin

The Curse Articulated by the Torah.

Chapter 6 Participation in Christ as Power-Vortex

The Death of Jesus Christ and the Sovereignty of God

Participation in Jesus Christ

Death to the Power of Sin and New Identity from Nothingness

The Trust That Pertains to the Son of God

Instead

Chapter 7 Decentering Identity Values

Renouncing the Prioritization of Gentile Identity

Examples of Unhealthy Identity Prioritization

Renouncing the Prioritization of an Ethnic Identity

The Proliferation of Legitimate Identities and the Nonidolatrous Worship of Christ-Groups

Chapter 8 The Slavery of Christ-Giving Love

Trust Works

Enslaved to Others

Opposition, Volition, and Process

The Corporate Context of Self-Giving Love

Chapter 9 The Hope of Righteousness and the Faithfulness of God

Righteousness and the Sovereignty of God

The Faithfulness of God

The Ethnic People of Israel

The Israel of God

Part III Positioning the Theology of Galatians

Chapter 10 Galatians and the New Testament

Galatians and Romans on Torah and Israel

Galatians and the Canonical Pauline Corpus

Galatians and New Testament Texts beyond the Pauline Corpus

Chapter 11 The Afterlife of Galatians

Jews, Christians, and Church Authorities in the Early Centuries

Luther and the Medieval Church

Judaism and Grace

God's Apocalyptic Invasion

Racial Justice

Gender and Power

Jewish and Muslim Interpreters

Chapter 12 What Paul Might Say

Appendix Did Galatians Accomplish Paul's Purpose?

Suggestions for Further Reading

Bibliography

Index of Ancient Literature

Index of Authors and Names

Subject Index.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 08 Aug 2025).

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-108-87487-8

1-108-87495-9

1-108-87320-0

OCLC:

1526229156