Searchable Commentaries on Galatians

(Listed in the order in which I would tend to consult them)

 

Modern Commentaries

 

Longenecker, Galatians (Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 41; by Richard N. Longenecker)

Excellent commentary on the Greek text of Galatians by a fine evangelical exegete.  The best available commentary on the Greek text.

 

Bruce, Epistle to the Galatians (New International Greek Testament Commentary by F.F. Bruce)

Excellent commentary on the Greek text of Galatians by a fine evangelical exegete.  Not as up-to-date as Longenecker’s commentary, but still quite good.

 

Martyn, Galatians (Anchor Bible by James Louis Martyn)

Advanced commentary by a world-renowned scholar.  Sometimes brilliant, sometimes idiosyncratic.

 

Witherington, Grace in Galatia: A Commentary on Paul's Letter to the Galatians (by Ben Witherington III)

Fine commentary by an excellent (and incredibly prolific) evangelical scholar.

 

Matera, Galatians (Sacra Pagina Series, by Frank J. Matera)

          Helpful commentary by a fine Catholic scholar.

 

Fung, The Epistle to the Galatians (New International Commentary on the New Testament; by Ronald Y. K. Fung)

          Another fine evangelical commentary.

 

Esler, Galatians (New Testament Readings; by Philip Francis Esler)

          Esler is committed to sociological readings.  Often full of insights.

 

Cole, The Letter of Paul to the Galatians: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale New Testament Commentary by R.A. Cole)

          A brief commentary in a fine evangelical series aimed at pastors.

 

Williams, Galatians (Abingdon New Testament Commentaries Series; by Sam K. Williams)

          A brief commentary in a series aimed at pastors.

 

Dunn, The Theology of Paul's Letter to the Galatians by James D. G. Dunn

This is not a commentary, but a helpful discussion of the theology of Paul’s letter which reflects Dunn’s unique take on a variety of issues.  It is listed last due to its different nature.

 

 

Commentaries by Church Fathers and Protestant Reformers

 

Edwards, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture by Mark J. Edwards)

          A fine collection of comments by ancient church fathers.

 

Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (by John Chrysostom)

Important fourth-century commentary on the Greek text by a superior exegete of the school of Antioch.  The whole commentary is available to read online.

 

Calvin, Commentary on Galatians.

Fine commentary by the clear thinking sixteenth-century reformer, theologian and exegete.  The whole commentary is available to read online.

 

Luther, Commentary on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians by Martin Luther (1483-1546)

The German reformer’s lectures on Galatians given in 1531.  An extremely important document for the history of the church’s understanding and application of Paul.  The whole commentary is available to read online.

 

Augustine's Commentary on Galatians: Introduction, Text, Translation, and Notes by Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo

          A Latin-English diglot of Augustine’s commentary.

 

Monographs

 

Kern, Rhetoric and Galatians: Assessing an Approach to Paul's Epistle (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series, by Philip H. Kern)

A superb critique of recent rhetorical approaches to Galatians.

 

Hays, The Faith of Jesus Christ: The Narrative Substructure of Galatians 3:1-4:11 (The Biblical Resource Series) by Richard B. Hays

The monograph that made the subjective understanding of pistis christou an ever-more-popular interpretation.

 

Cummins, Paul and the Crucified Christ in Antioch: Maccabean Martyrdom and Galatians 1 and 2 (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series, by S. A. Cummins)

A recent monograph on Maccabean backgrounds to Galatians 1-2.