Though little-known today, Nicholas of Lyra's commentaries are arguably among the most widely-read and influential commentaries of all time. For more than two hundred years, from the time of their composition, well into the Reformation era, they were copied and recopied, printed and reprinted, as an indispensable guide to the meaning of scripture. Naumann presents here a complete translation of Lyra's literal commentary on Galatians in English for the first time, with a freshly-edited Latin text, and provides ample notes on its significance in relation to the works of previous authors.

Nicholas of Lyra lived in an era of political turbulence0and0spiritual0conflict,0when0the papacy was in Avignon and the Franciscans were clashing with the more radical and strict “Spirituals.” Nicholas’s commentary on St. Paul’s letter0to0the0Galatians0aims0to0restore0a0firm understanding of the literal meaning of the text, looking at the innate internal meaning, stressing that we must keep in mind what St. Paul most directly intended to be understood. Filling a longstanding gap of research, this edition of Nicholas’s commentary on Galatians will help not only to broaden our understanding of the tradition of the interpretation of this epistle, but also to facilitate and promote further research and0interest0in0the0influence0of0Nicholas’s0Postilla on later works and authors, including Martin Luther, who stated that “Lyra’s Commentaries upon the Bible are worthy of all praise.”

Approximately 2,000 years ago, some Jewish communities of Galatia in central Asia Minor believed they had fallen under a curse, argues Jeremy Wade Barrier. A fellow Jew named Paul wrote the letter we call Galatians to help them escape its effects. In the letter, Barrier argues, Paul called for the Jews in Galatia to stop practicing circumcision. The rite had fallen into disuse within many Jewish communities in the Roman Empire, but Barrier argues the Galatian Jews believed it was a talisman that would protect them from harm. As a further precaution, they needed to deal with the person who had brought this evil to their community. A witch hunt was underway, and some had concluded that the witch was none other than Paul. Barrier provides a reconstruction of the original occasion of Paul’s letter to the Galatians and shows how Paul defended himself from accusations of witchcraft by countering that the ritual that would protect them from the “Evil Eye” was not circumcision, but rather baptism. Through the ritual of baptism, they could receive healing from a material, yet divine, “breath” of God. Barrier also reconstructs an earlier understanding of this pneuma that was lost to subsequent Christianity under the influence of Neoplatonism.

This work on Galatians is the inaugural volume in a significant new commentary series, The Bible in Medieval Tradition, which seeks to reconnect today's Christians with part of the church's rich tradition of biblical interpretation. Ian Christopher Levy has brought together six substantial commentaries on Galatians written between the ninth and the fourteenth centuries. Levy's clear, readable translations of these major texts -- previously unavailable in English -- are augmented by his in-depth introduction, which locates each author within the broad context of medieval scholarship.

This Companion introduces readers to the practice of Christian theology, covering what theologians do, why they do it, and what steps readers can take in order to become theological practitioners themselves. The volume aims to capture the variety of practices involved in doing theology, highlighting the virtues that guide them and the responsibilities that shape them. It also shows that the description of these practices, virtues and responsibilities is itself theological: what Christian theologians do is shaped by the wider practices and beliefs of Christianity. Written by a team of leading theologians, the Companion provides a unique resource for students and scholars of theology alike.

The Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible advances the assumption that the Nicene creedal tradition, in all its diversity, provides the proper basis for the interpretation of the Bible as Christian scripture. The series volumes, written by leading theologians, encourage readers to explore how the vital roots of the ancient Christian tradition inform and shape faithfulness today. In this addition to the series, respected theologian Kathryn Greene-McCreight offers a theological reading of Galatians. As with other volumes in the series, this commentary is designed to serve the church, providing a rich resource for preachers, teachers, students, and study groups. It demonstrates the continuing intellectual and practical viability of theological interpretation of the Bible.

In the first study of the Wycliffite Bible for nearly a century, Mary Dove takes the reader through every step of the conception, design and execution of the first English Bible. Wyclif's work initiated a tradition of scholarly, stylish and thoughtful biblical translation, and remains a major cultural landmark.