Interpreting Galatians: Explorations in Exegetical Method [Paperback]

Moisés Silva (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2001 | ISBN-10: 080102305X | ISBN-13: 978-0801023057 | Edition: 2

Addresses the key issues surrounding the exegesis of Galatians and the other Pauline Epistles, exploring how literary, historical, and theological factors impact interpretation. The first edition appeared as Explorations in Exegetical Method. This second edition features a new appendix and will be welcomed by all those studying the Pauline Epistles.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"New Testament scholars are confronted by many and diverse approaches to the text-linguistic, literary, historical, and theological. All too often such methods are uncritically or separately applied. In this well-written yet detailed book, Silva introduces the ways in which these approaches should be harnessed for our understanding of what the biblical authors intended. We are given hands-on experience with examples taken from Galatians. Readers are encouraged to apply his insights and critical judgments to other New Testament texts. Silva's timely book will help students and pastors. It is warmly welcomed."
-J. K. Elliott, University of Leeds

"This volume is packed with information seasoned with sound advice. 'Exegetical method' carries a very wide sense-not just instructions on word study and sentence diagramming, but 'explorations' into mirror reading, linguistic theory, discourse analysis, and history of interpretation. Silva's survey maintains the big picture but avoids oversimplifications and abstraction by concentrating on Galatians as a test case. Take up and read-you'll learn a lot about Galatians, and much else too."
-Robert H. Gundry, Westmont College

"Silva has mastered the literature on Galatians from Aquinas to Zuntz and offers wisdom from his years of research that the scholar will find invaluable. Students will also breathe a sigh of relief over his clear style and unpretentious, often humorous, approach to the subject. Both scholar and student will benefit from the example of erudition and humility characteristic of everything Silva writes."
-Frank Thielman, Beeson Divinity School

"Many books are written today on how to do exegesis, and yet students are often frustrated by their abstract character. Silva's work is distinctive, for he shows how to interpret the text by using Galatians as a case study. He offers sage advice on interpretive philosophy, textual criticism, Greek syntax, historical background, Pauline theology, and more! I learned much from this wise book, and I commend it enthusiastically to others."
-Thomas R. Schreiner, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary


Moisés Silva (Ph.D., University of Manchester) has taught New Testament at Westmont College, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

About the Author

Moisés Silva (Ph.D., University of Manchester) has taught New Testament at Westmont College, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic; 2 edition (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080102305X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801023057
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #345,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Moisés Silva taught biblical studies at Westmont College, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Seminary. He is the author or coauthor of eight books, and the revising editor of the Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High Octane Biblical Scholarship, April 16, 2002

By 

Douglas E. Fox (Ellington, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Interpreting Galatians: Explorations in Exegetical Method (Paperback)

Silva is at the top of his game in this richly packed combination commentary and discussion on exegetical method.

I haven't read anything as rich and thought provoking in awhile. This author has the gifts and ability to take you down into the historical and exegetical discussions of this biblical book at a level of depth that you may not have gone to before. To go down where Silva takes you, you need a guide who has read everything ever written about the epistle to the Galatians (in the original language of all the authors). It is almost like being on a guided tour through the archeological sites of (south) Galatia by Sir William Ramsay. The rich contours of the history of exegesis are handled with clarity and deftness. Our skillful guide shows us the great statues of Lightfoot and Bauer. We are allowed to marvel at them briefly before we move on to the modern day. If a scholar makes a misstep or an exaggerated claim, Silva is all over them. A key word here is "responsible" exegesis. The scholar, who writes with imprecision in Silva's area of expertise, stands in the cross hairs of extreme peril.

If you get this book and read it a couple of times, you will learn a lot from a great master of the material. Take a tour with Sir Silva; you will be the better Biblical expositor for it.