The Triumph of Abraham's God: The Transformation of Identity in Galatians

by Bruce W. Longenecker

This scholarly yet accessible study explores the various aspects of Paul's theology of divine triumph in Galatians. For Paul, the divine invasion into 'the present evil age' has resulted in the victory of God over competing suprahuman forces and the establishment of a sphere of existence where God's reputation as the cosmic sovereign is displayed.

Genres: Biblical Studies

236 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1998

About the author

Dr. Longenecker specializes in the origins of Christianity, including the following emphases: Early Christianity in its Greco-Roman context; Jesus-devotion in the Vesuvian towns (Pompeii and Herculaneum); the life and theology of Paul; care for the needy among Christian communities of the Greco-Roman world.

Dr. Longenecker joined the Baylor faculty in August 2009, having taught previously at St Andrews University (Scotland, 1999-2009), Cambridge University (England, 1995-1999) and Durham University (England, 1991-1995).

- Ph.D. in Theology; University of Durham, England (1986-90).
- M.Rel. in New Testament Studies;Wycliffe College and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (1983-86)
- B.A. in Biblical and Religious Studies; Wheaton College, Illinois, U.S.A. (1979-83)

Reviews

[Sanjuro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've come to this book at a time when I'm strongly reconsidering some of my views on Galatians, and doing a significant amount of study in that regard. Therefore, it is difficult to gauge how much of this book I agree with. That aside, the scope and effectiveness of the book is considerable. Longenecker discusses topics such as law and Gospel, apocalyptic readings of Galatians, the new perspective on Paul, and the role of Abraham in Paul's rhetoric. Each of these topics is treated with care, exploring interpretive history and offering strong exegetical treatment. For anyone looking to know Galatians well, this book is a must read.