If you ask about good New Testament commentaries, you don’t have to wait long before Douglas J. Moo is mentioned.
A prolific writer – he has produced no less than three books on the book of Romans, for example – he is Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. He was also Chair of the NIV translation committee.
Galatians
During the days of July 21–23, Moo gave a three-day intensive course at Oak Hill College for pastor-teachers entitled, ‘Galatians: a Letter for Today’. Dan Strange, Oak Hill’s academic vice principal, introduced the event by saying its aim was to help ministers to be ‘the best gift they can be to the church’, echoing Paul’s language in Ephesians 4.
Spending a couple of days in one Bible book in the hands of a learned guide was both intellectually stretching and emotionally satisfying. Dr Moo is not your stereotypical academic: he is keen to learn from the best of biblical scholarship, for example engaging with the New Perspective on Paul, and yet holding it all up to Scripture. His humble posture towards God’s Word was a great encouragement. One pastor at the conference commented: ‘It was a joy to be stretched theologically and pastorally by someone who knew their subject so well’.
Privilege to see pastors
On day one of the conference, it was a privilege to see 50 or so pastors, from different backgrounds and at different stages of their ministries, coming together to grapple with Galatians, eager to keep on learning.
By the second day, Dr Moo helped us start wrestling with the nuances of Paul’s phrasing and thought: how does he see faith being played out? What does Paul mean by justification? What is the significance for how we are to view the Old Testament law?
Wading through Galatians, it felt like we were catching fishes of gold. We considered the wonder of being united with Christ, the ultimate seed of Abraham, and to grasp the reality that by faith we are heirs with him. We explored the monumental significance of living in the realm of the Spirit. We took in the transforming power of the cross of Christ, which changes absolutely everything.
On day three, Dr Moo concluded by challenging us to base our ministries not on techniques, but on a deep sense of the revealed truth of God and a desire to minister it to people attractively and compassionately. He said that Galatians is one of those books which perhaps shocks us in its vehemence. As such, it is an important book for us to keep nearby to help us identify threats to the gospel. This was a conference which shaped those who were there by sharpening minds and warming hearts.
