A new commentary for today's world, The Story of God Bible Commentary explains and illuminates each passage of Scripture in light of the Bible's grand story. The first commentary series to do so, SGBC offers a clear and compelling exposition of biblical texts, guiding everyday readers in how to creatively and faithfully live out the Bible in their own contexts. Its story-centric approach is ideal for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and laypeople alike.

Three easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God's story:

• LISTEN to the Story: Includes complete NIV text with references to other texts at work in each passage, encouraging the reader to hear it within the Bible's grand story
• EXPLAIN the Story: Explores and illuminates each text as embedded in its canonical and historical setting
• LIVE the Story: Reflects on how each text can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustrations to aid preachers, teachers, and students

Praise for SGBC:

"The editors and contributors set that table very well and open up the biblical story in ways that move us to act with sensitivity and understanding ... Well done."

-Daniel I. Block, Wheaton College and Graduate School

"[The] easy-to-use format and practical guidance brings God's grand story to modern-day life so anyone can understand how it applies today."

-Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor, North Point Ministries

"Engagingly readable, it not only explores the biblical text but offers a range of applications and interesting illustrations."

-Craig S. Keener, Asbury Theological Seminary

"I love the SGBC series. It makes the text sing and helps us hear the story afresh."

-John Ortberg, Senior Pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church

"Pastors, Bible study leaders, and Christians of all types who are looking for a substantive and practical guide through the Scriptures will find these volumes helpful."

-Frank Thielman, Beeson Divinity School

"This commentary series breaks new ground ... Ideal for preaching and teaching."

-Craig Blomberg, Denver Seminary

"A perfect tool for helping every follower of Jesus to walk in the story that God is writing for them."

-Judy Douglass, Cru

About the Author
Nijay K. Gupta (PhD, University of Durham) is professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He is the author of several academic books including 1-2 Thessalonians (ZCINT), Paul and the Language of Faith, 15 New Testament Words of Life and has published commentaries on Colossians, Philippians, and Galatians. He is co-editor of The State of New Testament Studies and the second edition of Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. Scot McKnight (PhD, Nottingham) has been a Professor of New Testament for more than four decades. He is the author of more than ninety books, including the award-winning The Jesus Creed as well as The King Jesus Gospel, A Fellowship of Differents, One.Life, The Blue Parakeet, Revelation for the Rest of Us, and Kingdom Conspiracy.

Reviews
'Deep. Accessible. Applicable. Three words that rarely coexist are brilliantly interwoven in this volume on Galatians. Nijay Gupta writes with a depth that invites the reader into the biblical world, but does so in such an applicable way that this book's pages equally beckon the biblical world into the reader's everyday. As a local church pastor, Gupta's unpacking of Galatians is a rare gift I have benefited from myself and would commend to all in my congregation.' * Tyler Staton, lead pastor of Bridgetown Church (Portland, OR), author of Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools *
'Dr. Gupta does a wonderful job of mixing scholarly expertise (he knows the academic issues at stake in Galatians) with practical explanation (strong use of analogy and pop culture alongside analysis of contemporary concerns for the church). This will be a welcome resource for pastors looking for preaching and teaching inspiration as well as laity or students looking for a deeper dive into one of Paul's most famous letters.' * Esau McCaulley, associate professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, author of Reading While Black *
'Drawing on the best of Pauline scholarship and in conversation with recent debates relevant to interpreting Galatians, Nijay Gupta offers a rich treatment of Paul's letter and demonstrates how the apostle's message to the first-century churches can speak a transformative word for today. This volume will come to have a central place on many pastors' bookshelves.' * Timothy Gombis, professor of New Testament at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and author of Mark in The Story of God Bible Commentary series *
'Galatians is an explosive epistle that can easily be misread, misapplied, and even weaponized. World-class scholar Nijay Gupta helps us to be appropriately attentive to the context of the ancient world and to be attuned to Paul's own life and story, showing how the transformative gospel of grace compelled him to preach and to write about this good news. With Gupta's fresh prose and clear structure, we see the striking themes of Paul's letter: a new family of God, a true freedom in Christ, and an authentic faith that works in love. This is a commentary that is as much a gift for all Christians as it is for preachers and pastors. It can serve as a rich devotional or a resource for sermon writing. This is the Story of God in Galatians for the whole church.' * Dr. Glenn Packiam, lead pastor, Rockharbor Church, author of The Resilient Pastor and The Intentional Year *
'Like sitting down to coffee with a brilliant and approachable friend, reading Gupta's Story of God commentary invites readers to navigate the wilds of Galatians with clarity and verve. Attention-getting titles hook the reader, creating a desire to see how contemporary phrases can aptly describe an ancient text. At the same time, he elucidates the ancient text in its own setting, but also enlivens it to show what impact it should make in our world today. The freshness and readability of this interpretation makes me excited to recommend it to students and parishioners who desire an able guide to encounter Paul's most passionate letter.' * Amy Peeler, Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College, author of Women and the Gender of God *
'Nijay Gupta's commentary on Galatians belongs on the shelf of every pastor and Bible teacher. Gupta demystifies Pauline theology in a way that invokes the imagination of the preacher and nourishes the heart of anyone who wants to sit at the feet of Paul. Read this commentary, and in it you will find keys to understanding Paul's pastoral heart and theology.' * Rev. Tara Beth Leach, pastor, author of Emboldened *
'The Story of God Bible Commentary Series is a rich and insightful set of helpful resources for pastors, leaders, and laypeople who desire to follow the way of Jesus in these tumultuous times. But this contribution by the world-renowned biblical scholar--and trusted friend--Nijay Gupta is simply the cherry on top. If Galatians is said to have, in part, awakened the minds of the Protestant Reformation, then it very well may be that this commentary could awaken minds again with one of Paul's most critical letters to a church in chaos not all that unlike our own. A masterful commentary.' * A. J. Swoboda, associate professor of Bible, theology, and world Christianity at Bushnell University, and the author of After Doubt *
'This commentary roots us within the story of the people of God, equipping readers to grapple with the contextual realities that were present historically. It invites all of us to explore insights that can be discovered and applied in our lives today because of the depth of narrative understanding. This resource is both theologically rich and accessible for any curious learner.' * Keri Ladouceur, pastor of Innovation *
'This is a careful and balanced rereading of Galatians that exposes the wrong ways we have sometimes read it and focuses on what Paul actually says. In the process, he also takes us on a brilliant exploration of how to read Scripture as God's living word.' * Craig S. Keener, F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary *
'With an engaging style grounded in both solid research and contemporary concerns, Nijay Gupta unpacks Paul's letter to the Galatians--and to us--with insight after insight after insight. He gently challenges certain misunderstandings of various passages while demonstrating the apostle's overarching concerns: getting the gospel right and living the gospel. Gupta rightly emphasizes that believers have been crucified with Christ, and that by his Spirit Christ now lives in and among us to make us truly free for faithfulness to God and love for others.' * Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Chair in Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary's Seminary & University, Baltimore *



Book Information
ISBN 9780310327226
Author Nijay K. Gupta
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint Zondervan Academic
Publisher Zondervan
Weight(grams) 539g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 157mm * 26mm