Galatians

Summary

Galatians is a short letter with sharp edges. Paul defends the gospel of grace with urgency because souls are at stake. John V. Fesko approaches Galatians as a pastor theologian who wants preachers to feel both the clarity and the tenderness of Paul’s burden. The letter is not simply a doctrinal treatise about justification. It is a rescue mission. It calls the church back from slavery to the freedom of Christ, and it shows how true freedom produces holiness rather than license.

Fesko is particularly helpful in showing how Paul’s argument works. The letter moves from Paul’s divine commission, to the danger of another gospel, to the meaning of justification by faith, to the role of the law in redemptive history, and then to life in the Spirit. That movement matters. Many errors arise from breaking the letter apart. Fesko repeatedly encourages us to preach the flow, so that justification is not detached from union with Christ, and so that sanctification is not confused with self made righteousness.

We found this commentary well suited to the weekly demands of ministry. It is compact, clear, and purposeful. It does not pretend that Galatians is simple, but it does help pastors speak plainly. In an age where many are tempted to treat the gospel as a starting point rather than the ongoing ground of the Christian life, Galatians must be preached, and this is a dependable guide for doing so with conviction and care.

Strengths

First, the commentary is strong on the gospel logic of justification. Fesko explains that justification is God’s verdict on the basis of Christ alone, received by faith alone. He does not present this as a party badge. He presents it as life and freedom. That supports preaching that comforts the guilty and humbles the proud. It also helps pastoral care where people are crushed by performance, whether religious performance or moral performance.

Second, Fesko handles the law and the promise with a clear Reformed instinct. Galatians is often misread as if the law is simply bad and grace is simply good. Paul’s argument is more careful. The law has a purpose, and it serves the promise. Yet it cannot give life. Fesko helps us preach that balance, so that we avoid both legalism and antinomianism. We also found his explanation of covenant themes to be steady and useful, especially when preaching to congregations that need clarity about the Old Testament’s place in Christian life.

Third, the commentary is pastorally alert to the tone of Galatians. Paul is severe, but his severity is love. Fesko helps us feel that. That matters in preaching. We need to warn, but we need to warn as those who know the sweetness of Christ and the tragedy of gospel drift. This volume helps us keep that tone.

Limitations

The primary limitation is the brevity. At times you may want more extended discussion of interpretive debates, particularly around the phrase “works of the law,” the identity of the opponents, and the structure of Paul’s argument in chapters 3 and 4. This book gives enough to preach faithfully, but it will not satisfy those looking for a full academic survey. Also, because the prose is purposeful and compact, some readers may wish for more illustrative development. We see this as a preaching companion, not as a homiletics handbook.

How We Would Use It

We would use this volume for preaching preparation and for training. It is excellent for helping a new preacher keep justification central without turning the sermon into a theology lecture. It also supports pastoral application, particularly around assurance, repentance, and growth in holiness. When Paul calls the Galatians back to freedom, he is calling them back to Christ, and then to life by the Spirit. Fesko helps us keep those connections clear.

We would also use it to prepare for pastoral conversations about legalism and spiritual exhaustion. Galatians names a temptation that is always near, adding something to Christ. This commentary helps us expose that temptation gently, and then to press Christ’s sufficiency with confidence.

Closing Recommendation

This is a clear, theologically steady, and pastorally useful commentary on Galatians. It will serve churches that need to recover gospel freedom and gospel obedience together. We commend it for pastors who want a reliable guide that keeps the argument visible and keeps Christ central.