Galatians

2.1-21

Paul seemingly rambles from a variety of topics in the first ten verses of chapter 2, but it is because he is responding to a specific series of event that caused considerable problems between Jewish and Gentile Christians. The entire book of Galatians is set up in the chapter here as we see the words Law, Justification, and Faith throughout. Peter had originally eaten meals with Gentile Christians, but when joined by Jewish Christians, who feared association with unclean/uncircumcised Gentiles, (who were not beholden to the laws of Moses), Peter (and Barnabas) ceased from eating with the Gentile Christians. It was for this reason Paul rightly rebuked Peter. We know from Acts 15:1,5 & 2 Peter 3:14-16 that Peter accepted this rebuke and acknowledged his error. It is critical that there are not multiple versions of the Gospel. Paul knew this and knew that the Jews were discriminating against the Gentiles who weren't upholding Mosaic Law. It was difficult to discard thousands of years of tradition, yet to retain their adherence to the law, they were in effect making Christ's death "of no effect." Paul does not tell us that we are to act without restrain, but that we are to live for God. The distinction between living "by the law" and "living free from the law by faith" - is Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER 2

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.
2 And I went up because of a revelation, and I laid out to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, lest somehow I might be running, or had run, in vain.
3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
4 But this was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
6 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.
7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised
8 (for He who worked in Peter unto his apostleship to the circumcised worked in me also unto the Gentiles),
9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
10 Only they asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.

Paul Opposes Peter (Cephas)

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles, but when they came, he began to shrink back and separate himself, fearing the party of the circumcision.
13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before everyone, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;
16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
17 “But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!
18 “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.
19 “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
20 “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
21 “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”