Global Readings: A Sri Lankan Commentary on Paul's Letter to the Galatians

by David A. deSilva

Overview

Synopsis: Reading Scripture with a view to hearing its significance and challenge within its original, foreign context is the essence of exegesis and an anchor point for responsible hermeneutics. Reading Scripture alongside others from a significantly different social location also helps us see fresh aspects of the meaning of the text itself, as well as fresh angles on its challenge to Christian discipleship. This innovative commentary by respected New Testament scholar David deSilva is grounded in both approaches: a careful exegesis of Galatians as a basis for discerning the challenge of Scripture in any social location; and a reading of Galatians from the viewpoint of the challenges to living out its message among the churches in Sri Lanka, the result of extensive interaction with Christian leaders in Sri Lanka. Seeing the text afresh from within its ancient context and a different, modern social location will challenge readers in the West to consider once more Paul's message of transformation through the Spirit, with implications for Western Christians in their own context and in the larger global matrix of the Church universal. Endorsements: "True to the spirit of Paul, David deSilva, in his creative work Global Readings, allows the Christian church to relive Paul's theology in his Letter to the Galatians and to participate in the challenges faced by the Sri Lankan church today. David's bold move in the 'Reading with Sri Lankan Christians' sections of the commentary allows the ancient text to speak across space and time--a sacred task of an apostle." -K. K. Yeo author of The Spirit Hovers: Journeying through Chaos with Prayers "DeSilva's commentary on Galatians reflects engagement with Galatians scholarship yet remains easy for readers to use. It also reflects both careful consideration of the various historical issues in Galatians and also (albeit less extensively) explicit sensitivity to concrete readings of the text that supplement the usual Western applications." -Craig Keener author of Romans in the New Covenant Commentary Series "The 'miracle' of biblical hermeneutics is that Christians around the world understand passages of the Bible differently, yet at the same time manage, without equivocation, to affirm the same gospel. David deSilva shows us one example of this by reporting on his engagement with Sri Lankan Bible students in understanding the book of Galatians. It is a brilliant model of learning from one another and at the same time standing together in the affirmation of scriptural truth." -Terry C. Muck coauthor of Christianity Encountering World Religions: The Practice of Mission in the Twenty-First Century. Author Biography: David A. deSilva is Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary and an ordained minister in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is the author of numerous books, including Seeing Things John's Way: The Rhetoric of the Book of Revelation (2009), An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation (2004), and Introducing the Apocrypha (2002).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781610977074
Publisher:	Cascade Books
Publication date:	06/15/2012
Pages:	348
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

David A. deSilva is Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary and an ordained minister in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is the author of numerous books, including Seeing Things John's Way: The Rhetoric of the Book of Revelation (2009), An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods & Ministry Formation (2004), and Introducing the Apocrypha (2002).

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction

Authorship 1

Paul's Ministry in Galatia 4

The Pastoral Challenge in Galatia 8

The "Good News" according to the Rival Teachers 14

Overview of Paul's Response 20

Who Were the Galatian Christians? 22

Where Were the Galatian Christians? 24

Paul, Letter-Writing, and the Art of Persuasion 40

Was Galatians Effective? 55

Commentary

1:1-5 Paul's Opening Greeting 57

1:6-10 Paul Announces the Presenting Problem 62

1:11-17 The Divine Source of Paul's Dramatic Transformation and Gospel 68

1:18-24tPaul's First Visit to Jerusalem and Work in Syria and Cilicia 82

Reading Galatians 1 with Sri Lankan Christians 85

2:1-10 Paul's Second Visit to Jerusalem 94

2:11-14 The Antioch Incident 103

2:15-21 Paul's Position 112

Reading Galatians 2 with Sri Lankan Christians 136

3:1-6 Proof from Experience—Receiving the Spirit 148

3:7-9 Proof from Example—Abraham 157

3:10-14 Deductive Proof from Scripture 160

3:15-18 Proof from Analogy—Testamentary Law 168

3:19-22 HowDoesTorahFit In? 172

3:23-29 Proof from Analogy—Life in the Household 178

Reading Galatians 3 with Sri Lankan Christians 188

4:1-7 Argument from Analogy, Resumed 195

4:8-11 Implications of Argument from Analogy- Is Reversion to Slavery Desirable? 205

4:12-20 Making the Argument

4:21-31 Proof from Allegorical Reading of Scripture 217

Reading Galatians 4 with Sri Lankan Christians 228

5:1-6 Paul's Central Exhortation and Rationales 243

5:7-12 Putting Distance between the Galatians and the Rival Teachers 250

5:13-26 The Spirit's Sufficiency to Nurture Righteousness 255

Reading Galatians 5 with Sri Lankan Christians 275

6:1-10 Practical Ways to Walk in the Spirit 284

6:11-18 Paul's Parting Summaries and Shots 294

Reading Galatians 6 with Sri Lankan Christians 302

Bibliography 315

Index of Subjects 329

Index of Modern Authors 333

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"True to the spirit of Paul, David deSilva, in his creative work Global Readings, allows the Christian church to relive Paul's theology in his Letter to the Galatians and to participate in the challenges faced by the Sri Lankan church today. David's bold move in the 'Reading with Sri Lankan Christians' sections of the commentary allows the ancient text to speak across space and time—a sacred task of an apostle."
-K. K. Yeo author of The Spirit Hovers: Journeying through Chaos with Prayers

"DeSilva's commentary on Galatians reflects engagement with Galatians scholarship yet remains easy for readers to use. It also reflects both careful consideration of the various historical issues in Galatians and also (albeit less extensively) explicit sensitivity to concrete readings of the text that supplement the usual Western applications."
-Craig Keener author of Romans in the New Covenant Commentary Series

"The 'miracle' of biblical hermeneutics is that Christians around the world understand passages of the Bible differently, yet at the same time manage, without equivocation, to affirm the same gospel. David deSilva shows us one example of this by reporting on his engagement with Sri Lankan Bible students in understanding the book of Galatians. It is a brilliant model of learning from one another and at the same time standing together in the affirmation of scriptural truth."
-Terry C. Muck coauthor of Christianity Encountering World Religions: The Practice of Mission in the Twenty-First Century.

Editorial Reviews

"True to the spirit of Paul, David deSilva, in his creative work Global Readings, allows the Christian church to relive Paul's theology in his Letter to the Galatians and to participate in the challenges faced by the Sri Lankan church today. David's bold move in the 'Reading with Sri Lankan Christians' sections of the commentary allows the ancient text to speak across space and time—a sacred task of an apostle."
-K. K. Yeo author of The Spirit Hovers: Journeying through Chaos with Prayers

"DeSilva's commentary on Galatians reflects engagement with Galatians scholarship yet remains easy for readers to use. It also reflects both careful consideration of the various historical issues in Galatians and also (albeit less extensively) explicit sensitivity to concrete readings of the text that supplement the usual Western applications."
-Craig Keener author of Romans in the New Covenant Commentary Series

"The 'miracle' of biblical hermeneutics is that Christians around the world understand passages of the Bible differently, yet at the same time manage, without equivocation, to affirm the same gospel. David deSilva shows us one example of this by reporting on his engagement with Sri Lankan Bible students in understanding the book of Galatians. It is a brilliant model of learning from one another and at the same time standing together in the affirmation of scriptural truth."
-Terry C. Muck coauthor of Christianity Encountering World Religions: The Practice of Mission in the Twenty-First Century.

From the Publisher