Galatians Read online

  “The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture is a landmark achievement in theological interpretation of Scripture in and for the Church. Everything about it is inviting and edifying. It is a wonderful gift to the Catholic Church and a model for the rest of us. Highly recommended for all!”

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  Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture

  SERIES EDITORS

  Peter S. Williamson

  Mary Healy

  ASSOCIATE EDITOR

  Kevin Perrotta

  CONSULTING EDITORS

  Scott Hahn, Franciscan University of Steubenville

  †Daniel J. Harrington, SJ, Weston Jesuit School of Theology

  William S. Kurz, SJ, Marquette University

  †Francis Martin, Dominican House of Studies

  Frank J. Matera, Catholic University of America

  George Montague, SM, St. Mary’s University

  Terrence Prendergast, SJ, Archbishop of Ottawa

  © 2019 by Peter S. Williamson

  Published by Baker Academic

  a division of Baker Publishing Group

  PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

  www.bakeracademic.com

  Ebook edition created 2019

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

  Originally published as Lettera ai Galati by Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, © Figlie di San Paolo, via Francesco Albani, 21, 20149 Milan, Italy. Translated and adapted courtesy of Paoline Editoriale Libri.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  ISBN 978-1-4934-1673-8

  Nihil obstat:

  Monsignor Robert Lunsford

  Censor Librorum

  August 8, 2018

  Imprimatur:

  Printed with Ecclesiastical Permission

  Most Reverend Earl Boyea

  June 28, 2018

  The nihil obstat and imprimatur are official declarations that a book is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that those who have granted the nihil obstat or imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

  Except as otherwise specified, Scripture versification and quotations are from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

  Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016

  Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

  Scripture quotations labeled NJB are from THE NEW JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright © 1985 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.

  Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  Scripture quotations labeled RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

  Contents

  Cover 1

  Endorsements 2

  Series Page 3

  Title Page 4

  Copyright Page 5

  Illustrations 7

  Editors’ Preface 9

  Note on Authorship 12

  Abbreviations 13

  Introduction 15

  Outline of the Letter to the Galatians 27

  An Unusual Beginning (1:1–5) 29

  Strong Words: Paul Takes a Stand (1:6–10) 34

  Part 1: Paul Defends His Gospel by Telling His Story (1:11–2:21) 41

  Paul’s Call to Preach Came by Divine Revelation (1:11–24) 43

  Official Recognition of Paul’s Gospel (2:1–10) 59

  Confrontation at Antioch (2:11–14) 72

  Paul’s Gospel (2:15–21) 81

  Part 2: Arguments from Christian Experience and from Scripture (3:1–5:12) 95

  Three Quick Arguments for Faith over Works of the Law (3:1–18) 97

  The Temporary Role of the Law, the Extraordinary Benefits of Faith (3:19–29) 119

  Adoption as Sons and Daughters of God (4:1–11) 135

  A Personal Appeal (4:12–20) 152

  Another Argument from Scripture (4:21–31) 159

  Concluding Summons to Live as Free People (5:1–12) 171

  Part 3: Exhortation about How to Live as a Christian (5:13–6:10) 185

  Freedom, Love, and Life in the Spirit (5:13–25) 189

  Advice for Christian Community Life (5:26–6:10) 202

  Paul’s Final Words and Signature (6:11–18) 208

  Suggested Resources 215

  Glossary 217

  Index of Pastoral Topics 221

  Index of Sidebars 223

  Map 224

  Back Cover 225

  Illustrations

  Figure 1. Map: Possible locations of St. Paul’s Galatian churches 21

  Figure 2. Remains of Roman baths at Ancyra 22

  Figure 3. Rural landscape from the southern region called Galatia 22

  Figure 4. The overlap of the ages 32

  Figure 5. St. Paul Preaching at Athens (Raphael, 1515) 45

  Figure 6. Medallion of St. Paul in an icon frame 54

  Figure 7. Medallion of St. Peter in an icon frame 54

  Figure 8. St. James, the brother of the Lord 55

  Figure 9. St. Peter’s Church in Antioch 73

  Figure 10. Etching of St. Peter and St. Paul in a
fourth-century catacomb 75

  Figure 11. St. Peter and St. Paul (de Ribera, 1612) 77

  Figure 12. Moses (Lawrence the Monk, ca. 1408–10) 116

  Figure 13. Pedagogue and child (Greek terracotta) 126

  Figure 14. Jebel Musa, the traditional location of Mount Sinai 163

  Figure 15. Ancient surgical instruments used for circumcision 173

  Figure 16. Torah manuscript on parchment, ca. 1270 191

  Figure 17. Map: The journeys of St. Paul 224

  Editors’ Preface

  The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord. . . . All the preaching of the Church should be nourished and governed by Sacred Scripture. For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the power and goodness in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons and daughters, the food of the soul, a pure and perennial fountain of spiritual life.

  Second Vatican Council, Dei Verbum 21

  Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?

  Luke 24:32

  The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture aims to serve the ministry of the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church. Since Vatican Council II, there has been an increasing hunger among Catholics to study Scripture in depth and in a way that reveals its relationship to liturgy, evangelization, catechesis, theology, and personal and communal life. This series responds to that desire by providing accessible yet substantive commentary on each book of the New Testament, drawn from the best of contemporary biblical scholarship as well as the rich treasury of the Church’s tradition. These volumes seek to offer scholarship illumined by faith, in the conviction that the ultimate aim of biblical interpretation is to discover what God has revealed and is still speaking through the sacred text. Central to our approach are the principles taught by Vatican II: first, the use of historical and literary methods to discern what the biblical authors intended to express; second, prayerful theological reflection to understand the sacred text “in accord with the same Spirit by whom it was written”—that is, in light of the content and unity of the whole Scripture, the living tradition of the Church, and the analogy of faith (Dei Verbum 12).

  The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture is written for those engaged in or training for pastoral ministry and others interested in studying Scripture to understand their faith more deeply, to nourish their spiritual life, or to share the good news with others. With this in mind, the authors focus on the meaning of the text for faith and life rather than on the technical questions that occupy scholars, and they explain the Bible in ordinary language that does not require translation for preaching and catechesis. Although this series is written from the perspective of Catholic faith, its authors draw on the interpretation of Protestant and Orthodox scholars and hope these volumes will serve Christians of other traditions as well.

  A variety of features are designed to make the commentary as useful as possible. Each volume includes the biblical text of the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE), the translation approved for liturgical use in the United States. In order to serve readers who use other translations, the commentary notes and explains the most important differences between the NABRE and other widely used translations (e.g., RSV, NRSV, JB, NJB, and NIV). Each unit of the biblical text is followed by a list of references to relevant Scripture passages, Catechism sections, and uses in the Roman Lectionary. The exegesis that follows aims to explain in a clear and engaging way the meaning of the text in its original historical context as well as its perennial meaning for Christians. Reflection and Application sections help readers apply Scripture to Christian life today by responding to questions that the text raises, offering spiritual interpretations drawn from Christian tradition, or providing suggestions for the use of the biblical text in catechesis, preaching, or other forms of pastoral ministry.

  Interspersed throughout the commentary are Biblical Background sidebars that present historical, literary, or theological information, and Living Tradition sidebars that offer pertinent material from the postbiblical Christian tradition, including quotations from Church documents and from the writings of saints and Church Fathers. The Biblical Background sidebars are indicated by a photo of urns that were excavated in Jerusalem, signifying the importance of historical study in understanding the sacred text. The Living Tradition sidebars are indicated by an image of Eadwine, a twelfth-century monk and scribe, signifying the growth in the Church’s understanding that comes by the grace of the Holy Spirit as believers study and ponder the Word of God in their hearts (see Dei Verbum 8).

  Maps and a glossary are included in each volume for easy reference. The glossary explains key terms from the biblical text as well as theological or exegetical terms, which are marked in the commentary with a cross (†). A list of suggested resources, an index of pastoral topics, and an index of sidebars are included to enhance the usefulness of these volumes. Further resources, including questions for reflection or discussion, can be found at the series website, www.CatholicScriptureCommentary.com.

  It is our desire and prayer that these volumes be of service so that more and more “the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified” (2 Thess 3:1) in the Church and throughout the world.

  Peter S. Williamson

  Mary Healy

  Kevin Perrotta

  Note to Readers

  The New American Bible, Revised Edition differs slightly from most English translations in its verse numbering of Psalms and certain other parts of the Old Testament. For instance, Ps 51:4 in the NABRE is Ps 51:2 in other translations; Mal 3:19 in the NABRE is Mal 4:1 in other translations. Readers who use different translations are advised to keep this in mind when looking up Old Testament cross-references given in the commentary.

  Note on Authorship

  This volume is unique in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series (CCSS) in that it is based on a previously published work, Cardinal Albert Vanhoye’s Lettera ai Galati, published in 2000 and revised in 2011. Peter S. Williamson, this volume’s coauthor, adapted Vanhoye’s Italian commentary for this series, using a translation by his wife, Marsha Daigle-Williamson. This commentary presents Cardinal Vanhoye’s work, originally written for his students, along with some additional material to better serve ministers of the word and other readers. Williamson has adapted Vanhoye’s commentary in three ways. First, he has added sidebars, pastoral application sections, a glossary, illustrations, suggested resources, and indexes—features that are characteristic of the CCSS. For some of these features Williamson was able to draw upon material from Lettera ai Galati or other writings by Cardinal Vanhoye, although the preponderance is Williamson’s own work. Second, because it was necessary to condense the Italian commentary to meet the requirements of this series, Williamson has omitted some information and arguments that would be of interest to graduate students and scholars but are less pertinent to a pastoral commentary. Finally, in a few places Williamson has included in the text or footnotes other interpretations suggested by recent commentators.

  Abbreviations

  † indicates that the definition of a term appears in the glossary

  ACCS Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament VIII, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, edited by Mark J. Edwards (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1999)

  BECNT Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament

  Catechism Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (New York: Doubleday, 2003)

  CCSS Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture

  Denzinger H. Denzinger, Compendium of Creeds, Definitions, and Declarations on Matters of Faith and Morals, 43rd ed. Edited by Peter Hünermann. Latin-English (San Francisco: Ignatius, 2012)

  ESV English Standard Version

  Lectionary The Lectionary for Mass (1988/2000 USA Edition)


  LXX †Septuagint

  NABRE New American Bible (Revised Edition, 2011)

  NIV New International Version

  NJB New Jerusalem Bible

  NRSV New Revised Standard Version

  NT New Testament

  OT Old Testament

  RSV Revised Standard Version

  Books of the Old Testament

  Gen Genesis

  Exod Exodus

  Lev Leviticus

  Num Numbers

  Deut Deuteronomy

  Josh Joshua

  Judg Judges

  Ruth Ruth

  1 Sam 1 Samuel

  2 Sam 2 Samuel

  1 Kings 1 Kings

  2 Kings 2 Kings

  1 Chron 1 Chronicles

  2 Chron 2 Chronicles

  Ezra Ezra

  Neh Nehemiah

  Tob Tobit

  Jdt Judith

  Esther Esther

  1 Macc 1 Maccabees

  2 Macc 2 Maccabees

  Job Job

  Ps Psalm/Psalms

  Prov Proverbs

  Eccles Ecclesiastes

  Song Song of Songs

  Wis Wisdom

  Sir Sirach

  Isa Isaiah

  Jer Jeremiah

  Lam Lamentations

  Bar Baruch

  Ezek Ezekiel

  Dan Daniel

  Hosea Hosea

  Joel Joel

  Amos Amos

  Obad Obadiah

  Jon Jonah

  Mic Micah

  Nah Nahum

  Hab Habakkuk

  Zeph Zephaniah

  Hag Haggai

  Zech Zechariah

  Mal Malachi

  Books of the New Testament

  Matt Matthew

  Mark Mark

  Luke Luke

  John John

  Acts Acts

  Rom Romans

  1 Cor 1 Corinthians

  2 Cor 2 Corinthians

  Gal Galatians

  Eph Ephesians

  Phil Philippians

  Col Colossians

  1 Thess 1 Thessalonians

  2 Thess 2 Thessalonians

  1 Tim 1 Timothy

  2 Tim 2 Timothy

  Titus Titus