“Neither Jews nor Greeks”: “The Universality of the Gospel Does Not Erase Differences; It Reconciles Them”

16 july 2026

Why devote more than two hundred pages to the Epistle to the Galatians? In Neither Jews nor Greeks, Norbert Tibeau shows that this letter of Saint Paul sheds light on remarkably contemporary issues: identity, diversity, unity, freedom, and dialogue among peoples. On the occasion of the publication of his book, he reflects on the convictions that guided his research and on the enduring relevance of a text written two thousand years ago.

Why did you devote an entire book to the Letter to the Galatians?

Because it is probably one of the most revolutionary texts in the New Testament. Behind what may appear to be a highly technical question—should the Law of Moses be imposed on new converts?—Paul is in fact answering a universal question: what truly unites human beings?

This letter marks a decisive turning point in the history of Christianity. It shows that salvation is no longer reserved for one people or one particular tradition but is offered to all humanity. I wanted to demonstrate how this foundational insight continues to illuminate our own time.

The title Neither Jews nor Greeks is immediately evocative. Why did you choose this expression?

Because it encapsulates Paul's entire message. When he writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek,” he is not seeking to abolish identities. Rather, he affirms that cultural, social, and ethnic affiliations are no longer obstacles to communion in Christ.

This sentence is often quoted but rarely explored in depth. Yet it opens up a profound reflection on human dignity, fraternity, and the universal vocation of the Church. It remains strikingly relevant in a world where questions of identity occupy a central place.

You place great emphasis on the transition from the Law to faith. Why is this so important?

Because it lies at the very heart of Paul's message. After his encounter with Christ, Paul came to understand that the relationship with God is no longer founded primarily on the observance of legal prescriptions but on a living trust in the risen Christ.

This does not mean that the Law is dismissed or despised. It retains its place within the history of salvation, but it is no longer the basis of justification. This shift is essential for understanding the whole of Pauline theology and the birth of Christianity.

Your book goes far beyond biblical commentary. It also contains an extensive historical and theological reflection.

I wanted to place the Letter to the Galatians within its historical context. To understand Paul, one must understand the Judaism of his time, the mission to the Gentiles, the first Christian communities, and the debates that shaped them.

I also wished to engage in dialogue with many contemporary scholars, including Joseph Ratzinger—Pope Benedict XVI—as well as historians, biblical scholars, and theologians. This diversity of sources demonstrates that the question of the universality of salvation continues to inspire Christian reflection today.

Your book also reveals Paul as a missionary, much closer to everyday life than many people imagine.

This is an aspect that is particularly important to me. Paul was not a theologian confined to a study. He was a man constantly on the move, meeting very different peoples, engaging with Jews of the Diaspora, Greeks, philosophers, merchants, slaves, and community leaders alike.

His theology emerged from this concrete experience. It was shaped through contact with real human situations. That is precisely what makes it so relevant today.

You show that universality is not the same as uniformity.

Absolutely. In fact, this is one of the main misunderstandings I wanted to dispel. Christian universality does not mean that all cultures become identical.

On the contrary, Paul deeply respects the peoples he encounters. He proclaims the same Gospel, yet he knows how to express it within different cultural contexts. The unity he proposes never denies differences; it is a communion that transcends them without erasing them.

Does this reflection have a particular resonance in today's world?

I believe it does, profoundly. Our societies are confronted with cultural, religious, and identity-based tensions that can lead to withdrawal and mistrust.

Without offering simplistic answers, Paul invites us to adopt a different perspective. He reminds us that the dignity of the human person precedes every form of belonging and that faith opens a space in which everyone can be welcomed without renouncing their own history. This conviction can nourish dialogue between cultures today, as well as ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.

Your book also gives significant attention to baptism. Why?

Because, in Paul's thought, baptism is the concrete manifestation of the universality of salvation. Through baptism, all become members of one people, regardless of origin, social status, or culture.

Baptism does not abolish human differences; it grants a new identity founded on divine sonship. This perspective is essential for understanding the unity of the Church as Paul conceives it.

What do you hope readers will take away after finishing your book?

I hope they will rediscover Saint Paul from a fresh perspective. He is sometimes portrayed as a difficult or even austere author. In reality, he was a passionate man, driven by immense hope and by the desire to see Christian communities overcome their divisions.

If readers close this book with the desire to read the Letter to the Galatians again and discover in it a living message that truly speaks to them, then my goal will have been achieved. The great questions Paul confronted—freedom, identity, fraternity, and salvation—are still our own. That is undoubtedly why his message continues, two thousand years later, to challenge our world and open new paths of hope.

This book is available in French.

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