imperative mood: a grammatical term referring to verbs that convey a command or instruction—for example, “Do not get drunk on wine . . . but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18). Verbs in the imperative mood instruct readers about how they are to live their new identity in Christ (Gal 5:13b, 16b; 6:1–2).
indicative mood: a grammatical term referring to verbs that describe matters of fact—what was, is, or will be. Verbs in the indicative mood often recount what God has done in Christ and the change that it has brought about for believers (Gal 2:16, 20; 3:11).
inheritance: a term in Scripture that often refers to a share in the land that God promised to Abraham and his descendants (see the sidebar, “What Is Abraham’s Inheritance?,” p. 107). As the story of salvation has progressed, the understanding of this inheritance has deepened, so that in the New Testament it often refers to eternal life with God.
Judaizers, Judaizing: people who taught that it was necessary for Gentile Christians to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses.
justify, justification: according to its most basic sense, “to justify” means to judge that a person’s conduct meets God’s standards, which for a Jew meant the law of Moses. Paul, however, on the basis of many Old Testament texts and his encounter with the risen Lord, came to see that no human being will be found truly righteous before God on the basis of conduct (Gal 2:16; Ps 143:2; see Rom 3:9–19). He discovers instead that human beings need to be justified in a more radical sense—namely, to be made righteous by a divine act that not only grants forgiveness of sins but also transforms a person from within by the Holy Spirit. The basis of this justification is Christ’s death on the cross for our sins (Gal 2:20), and the way to receive this gift is through faith in Christ (see the sidebar, “What Does It Mean to Be Justified?,” pp. 82–83).
law (Greek nomos; Hebrew torah): refers to the first five books of the Bible—that is, the Pentateuch or the law of Moses—and, occasionally, the entire Old Testament (e.g., Rom 3:19). Paul usually uses “law” to refer to God’s commandments but sometimes focuses on the law as divine revelation (both senses are found in Rom 3:21b and Gal 4:21). For more, see the sidebars, “What Are ‘Works of the Law’?,” p. 84, and “Paul’s Nuanced View of the Law,” pp. 146–47.
live (Greek peripateĊ, “walk”): to conduct oneself in a particular manner. In Galatians, Paul uses this word to refer to the Christian way of life (5:16).
Lord (Greek kyrios): (1) in common usage, a term of respectful address (like “Sir”) or the title used for a slave master or for the Roman emperor; (2) in the †Septuagint, a word that translates the divine name YHWH and refers to God; (3) in the New Testament, a title of Jesus that refers to his divinity and royal authority (Phil 2:11). Catholics use this title in the liturgy when they pray, “Kyrie, eleison,” “Lord, have mercy.”
LXX: see Septuagint.
Messiah (from Hebrew mashiah, “anointed one”; in Greek Christos): the descendant of King David promised by God, who Jews of Jesus’ day hoped would come to restore the kingdom to Israel. The early Christians recognized Jesus as the Messiah promised in the Jewish Scriptures, the Christ, whose eternal kingdom includes people of every nation.
nations: see Gentile, Gentiles.
Qumran: an archaeological site northwest of the Dead Sea, thought to be an Essene settlement, near which the Dead Sea Scrolls, a treasure trove of Jewish religious writings, were discovered. The Essenes were a Jewish sect at the time of Jesus and are known from the writings of Philo and Josephus.
rhetoric, rhetorical: (1) the science and art of persuasive oratory developed by Aristotle and his successors (see “Genre” in the introduction, pp. 18–19); (2) persuasive ability in speech or writing. Rhetorical questions do not expect an answer but are intended to make a point.
ritual: (1) as a noun, a (religious) rite or ceremony; (2) as an adjective, referring to regulations of purity or procedure that govern daily life and especially acts of worship. Thomas Aquinas referred to this type of legislation in the law of Moses as the ceremonial law (see the sidebar, “Law in Catholic Tradition,” pp. 196–97).
Septuagint: Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible dating from the third and second centuries BC, commonly abbreviated LXX because of the tradition that it was the work of seventy scholars. As the Bible used by Greek-speaking Jews and Christians, it is often quoted in the New Testament.
Torah (Hebrew for “law” or “instruction”): the first five books of the Bible, attributed to Moses and thus also called the law of Moses, the books of Moses, or the Pentateuch. “Torah” is also used more broadly to refer to all God’s teachings in the Old Testament on how to live an upright life in covenant relationship with him.
tropological sense: the spiritual meaning of Scripture that has to do with Christian conduct; also called the moral sense.
type, typological: describes a person, place, institution, or event in an earlier stage of God’s plan that foreshadows God’s action at a later stage in Christ, the Church, the sacraments, or the future kingdom.
Index of Pastoral Topics
This index indicates where Galatians mentions various topics that may be useful for evangelization, catechesis, apologetics, or other forms of pastoral ministry.
anathema, 1:8–9
baptism, 2:19–20; 3:27–28; 6:14
Cephas. See Peter and Paul
children of God, 3:26–27; 4:4–7
Christology, 1:1, 3, 15–16; 3:13–14, 16, 26; 4:4–6
Council of Jerusalem, 2:1–10
cross of Christ, 1:4; 2:19–21; 3:1, 13; 5:11, 24; 6:12, 14, 17
crucifying the flesh, 5:24; 6:14
death of Christ. See cross of Christ
ecclesiology, 2:7–10; 3:7, 14, 28–30
faith of Abraham, 3:7–14
faith working through love, 5:6
financial support of teachers, 6:6
flesh, works of, 5:17, 19–21
fraternal correction, 6:1
freedom in Christ, 4:8–10, 26–31; 5:1, 13
Galatians’ relationship with Paul. See Paul, relationship with the Galatians
generosity, 6:6–9
good works, 6:9–10
gospel, no other, 1:6–9, 11–12
gospel to circumcised and uncircumcised, 2:7
grace, 1:3, 6, 15; 2:9, 21; 5:4; 6:18
heir. See inheritance
Holy Spirit. See Spirit
hope, 5:5
humility, 6:3–5
inheritance, 3:14, 18, 29; 4:7
Jews and Gentiles in Christ, 2:7–9; 3:28–29; 5:6; 6:15
justification by faith, 2:15–16, 19–21; 3:11, 22, 24
kingdom, conduct that is incompatible with, 5:19–21
law, dying to, 2:19
law, purpose of, 3:19–24; 4:1–5
law, works of, 2:16; 3:2–5, 10; 5:3
love of Christ, 1:4; 2:19–20
love toward others, 5:13–14; 6:2, 10
marks (stigmata) of Jesus, 6:17
miracles, 3:5
mutual care among Christians, 5:13–14; 6:9–10
new creation, 6:15
Paul, call and conversion, 1:13–23
Paul, physical weakness of, 4:13–14
Paul, relationship with the Galatians, 1:2, 6–7; 3:1; 4:11–20; 5:10; 6:18
people-pleasing, 1:10
perseverance, 6:9
Peter and Paul, 1:18; 2:7–14
reward, 6:7–9
sexual immorality, 5:19–21
slavery and freedom, 1:10; 3:28; 4:7–10; 5:1, 13
speech, 5:15
Spirit, baptism in, 3:2–3
Spirit, fruit of, 5:22–23
Spirit, living (walking) in, 5:16–18, 25
Spirit, received by hearing in faith, 3:2–5, 14
Trinity, 4:6
truth, 2:5, 14; 4:16; 5:7
vices to avoid, 5:15, 19–21, 26
world, the present age, 1:4; 4:3; 6:14
Index of Sidebars
Abraham’s In
heritance, What Is? 107
Anathema, The Origin of, in the Christian Tradition 38
Antioch, The Church of 74
Child of God, Is Everyone a? 142
“Children of God,” Understanding 128
Deep Magic in Narnia 182
“Faith in Christ” or “the Faithfulness of Christ”? 86
“Faith,” What Does Paul Mean by? 100
Fathers of the Church on Glorying in the Cross 212
“Gospel,” The Meaning of, in the New Testament 36
Jerusalem Council, Paul’s Visit and the 61
Jerusalem, Mother of All Nations 164
Jerusalem, The Fourfold Meaning of 161
Justified, What Does It Mean to Be? 82
Law in Catholic Tradition 196
Law of Moses, Did Paul Keep the? 174
Law of Moses, Diverse Biblical Perspectives on the 120
Law, Paul’s Nuanced View of the 146
Paul’s Confrontation with Peter in the History of Interpretation 78
Paul’s Gospel 62
Peter, Cephas Is 54
“Son of God” in the Bible 50
St. Augustine on the Purpose of the Letter to the Galatians 65
St. John Chrysostom on Paul’s Pastoral Skill 154
Tone, Diverse Insights into Paul’s Change of 157
Was the Old Covenant Only about Externals? 187
“Works of the Law,” What Are? 84
Figure 17. The journeys of St. Paul according to the information supplied in Acts of the Apostles. [© Baker Publishing Group]
Table of Contents
Cover
Endorsements
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Illustrations
Editors’ Preface
Note on Authorship
Abbreviations
Introduction
Outline of the Letter to the Galatians
An Unusual Beginning
Strong Words: Paul Takes a Stand
Part 1: Paul Defends His Gospel by Telling His Story Paul’s Call to Preach Came by Divine Revelation
Official Recognition of Paul’s Gospel
Confrontation at Antioch
Paul’s Gospel
Part 2: Arguments from Christian Experience and from Scripture Three Quick Arguments for Faith over Works of the Law
The Temporary Role of the Law, the Extraordinary Benefits of Faith
Adoption as Sons and Daughters of God
A Personal Appeal
Another Argument from Scripture
Concluding Summons to Live as Free People
Part 3: Exhortation about How to Live as a Christian Freedom, Love, and Life in the Spirit
Advice for Christian Community Life
Paul’s Final Words and Signature
Suggested Resources
Glossary
Index of Pastoral Topics
Index of Sidebars
Map
Back Cover
List of Pages
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