Sacra Pagina: Galatians (Volume 9) - Softcover

Matera, Frank J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0814659721 ISBN 13: 9780814659724

Publisher: Liturgical Press, 2007

Synopsis

Paul's Letter to the Galatians has played a major role in the history of theology, especially in the Church's teaching on grace, faith, and justification. This commentary argues that Paul's doctrine of justification by faith is essentially social in nature and has important ecumenical implications for the Church today. In its original setting, Galatians established a foundation for the unity of Jewish and Gentile Christians: all are justified by the faith of Jesus Christ.

In addition to illuminating the historical situation that led Paul to write his Letter to the Galatians, this commentary pays careful attention to the rhetorical structure of this letter and its theological message. The author provides a fresh translation of Galatians, critical notes on each verse of the text, and a careful commentary of the letter in light of Paul's theology.

Theories abound on the question of Galatians, why it was written, what it says, and what the implications of that message are. Yet few scholars have devoted themselves at length to this letter. What sets this work apart is the extent and detail of its scholarship. Includes an updated bibliography as an appendix.

About this title

About the Author:

Frank J. Matera was for many years the Andrews-Kelly-Ryan Professor of Biblical Studies at the Catholic University of America. A former president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America, he is presently the pastor of St. Mary's Church in Simsbury, Connecticut. He has published commentaries on Romans, Second Corinthians, and Galatians and written books on New Testament theology, New Testament Christology, New Testament ethics, and Pauline theology. Matera's previous works published by Liturgical Press include Strategies for Preaching Paul, Preaching Romans: Proclaiming God's Saving Grace, The Sermon on the Mount: The Perfect Measure of the Christian Life, and Resurrection: The Origin and Goal of the Christian Life.

Review:

It would make a worthy addition to anyone’s personal library.The Australian Biblical Review

Matera’s commentary on Galatians was the first to appear in the Sacra Pagina series. His introduction addresses the classical background issues that relate to Galatians, foremost being the identity of those against whom Paul writes. . . . The commentary sections are balanced and offer careful exegesis from a historio-critical perspective.The Expository Times

Matera has written a clear, straightforward, and convincing commentary. Internationale Zeitschriftenschau für Bibelwissenschaft und Grenzgebiete

For my money, clearly the most helpful of the recent lot [of commentaries on Galatians] to this point is the contribution to Sacra Pagina by Frank J. Matera. . . . Matera's commentary deserves a wide reading not only by New Testament specialists but also by seminarians and ministers. Interpretation

Uniquely explained and scholarly presented, this presentation of the meaning of the Letter to Galatians, as one of the most influential of the New Testament, should be powerfully relevant to contemporary peoples. Emmanuel

About this edition

• Publisher: Liturgical Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0814659721
• ISBN 13: 9780814659724
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 280