Midweek: Word for Word Bible Comic's Epistle to the Galatians

So, I really thought I'd be back to our Midweek articles on Walking the Twelve Steps with Jesus, but "best laid plans" and all that. Instead, I received an email from our friend at Word for Word Bible Comics, Simon Amadeus Pillario. His beautifully illustrated word-for-word (hence the name) edition of the Book of Galatians was released this month, and he asked some bloggers to offer our opinion. The way it works, we receive free digital copies of each book, post our reviews, and talk a bit about his next project. So, without further ado...

I have reviewed Word for Word in the past, but I have to be honest, I was a little taken aback by this request. I mean, I can imagine illustrating a book like Esther or Judges, plenty of action going on. Song of Solomon is rife with visuals; and even the Gospels, for all of the teaching contained in them, contain plenty of scenes to be played out in the hands of a skillful artist. But Galatians? How, exactly, does one illustrate what is being said in a letter? Artistically, imaginatively, and with great respect to the text, if you are Pillario. Take, for example, a passage like Galatians 2:4,5 which reads:

This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

Paul is recalling previous acts, the nefarious plots of outsiders against the Gospel. The artist uses the text, the New International Version, to craft drawings of Paul's recollections that are detailed but a bit less colorful than his illustrations of the Galatian church actually receiving the words of the letter when read publicly. As I read this passage in Word for Word's rendering, I noticed the abundance of historical recollections Paul used to support and illustrate his exposition of the Gospel. (Without those narratives, the letter to Galatia may have come across as correction upon correction, tenet upon tenet, and not been well-received at all.) My initial concerns about effectively illustrating an epistle were eliminated: Pillario's excellent attention to the narrative caused me to see it as I'd never before. 

His methods are explained on the first few pages of every book:

The Word-for-Word Bible Comic has avoided, as far as possible, creating a new interpretation, version or re-telling of the text. Using research to ensure the narrative is represented as authentically as possible, the pictures in the comic aim to represent what the text plainly illustrates. In the case of ambiguity, a multitude of qualified and respected Bible Commentaries (including Bailey, Lange, Archer and a range of others cross-referenced with Biblehub.com) have been deferred to. 

For further clarification, he says that if the text is clear or ambiguous but refined elsewhere, it is to be drawn clearly. If the text is ambiguous but reputable commentators agree, the artist implies interpretation through the images. If the text is ambiguous and commentators are divided, the images are to remain as ambiguous as the text. Word for Word's dedication to spreading God's Word accurately and in a unique and imaginative way is obvious. 

I would encourage anyone --comic/ graphic novel fan or not --to treat yourself and, maybe, someone on your Christmas list, to a copy of any one of Word for Word's Bible comics, available in print or digital format. (Pay close attention to the recommended age groups for each edition. Most are 12+) And if you're looking for that Thanksgiving or end of the year charitable contribution, become a part of the Kickstarter campaign for The Epistle to the Thessalonians. You can make your donation here: 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/word4wordbiblecomic/epistles-to-the-thessalonians-word-for-word-bible-comic-niv?ref=32zy0s

And be a part of something really special!