Galatians 2:1-5 (WEL) Fourteen years later, I again went to Jerusalem with Barnabas. I also took Titus. 2 I went up according to revelation and fully explained the Gospel that I preach among the Gentiles, but it was in private to those who were regarded as leaders, lest somehow I exhausted myself for nothing. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, was forced to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 But stealthily, they brought in false brethren, who came in with secret motives, to snoop on our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, so they might bring us into slavery. 5 We did not yield by giving in to them even briefly, so that the truth of the Gospel might stay with you permanently.
Chapter summary:
Joseph Benson:
“Here, in prosecution of the design on which he had entered in the preceding chapter, the apostle
(1) Informs the Galatians of his journey from Antioch to Jerusalem, and of his interview with the apostles there, who acknowledged the divine authority of his doctrine and mission, owned him as the apostle of the Gentiles, and received Titus, as an uncircumcised Greek, into their Christian communion, Gal 2:1-10.
(2) He shows how he had publicly rebuked Peter himself at Antioch, for Judaizing, and how he had stood up in defense of the liberty of the church from Jewish impositions, Gal 2:11-14. He thence,
(3) Takes occasion to enter on his proof of the doctrine of justification by faith, without the works of the Mosaic law, Gal 2:15-21.”
V1 Fourteen years later, I again went to Jerusalem with Barnabas. I also took Titus.
Paul didn’t go to Jerusalem again until 14 years had passed. Many commentators believe this is recorded in Acts 15, the Great Jerusalem Council. Barnabas was a Hebrew, and Titus was a Gentile from Syrian Antioch. Paul, in telling the Galatian churches that the teaching of the Judaizers regarding the necessity of circumcision was not required according to the decision of the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem (Acts 15:1 and Acts 15:20).
Principle: Beware of teachers who require something more than a person’s personal faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
V2 I went up according to revelation and fully explained the Gospel that I preach among the Gentiles, but it was in private to those who were regarded as leaders, lest somehow I exhausted myself for nothing.
God had revealed to Paul that circumcision was not required, to go to Jerusalem for the council meeting, and explain the gospel that he preaches. Whether public discussions or private, circumcision and most other Mosaic law requirements were and are not required for salvation or to live a faithful Christian life.
V3 But not even Titus, who was with me, was forced to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
Circumcision is not required for salvation.
V4 But stealthily, they brought in false brethren, who came in with secret motives, to snoop on our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, so they might bring us into slavery.
The false brethren are false believers who corrupted their teaching and gospel concerning the necessity of circumcision.
Bible Knowledge Commentary:
“In this case, they infiltrated (pareisēlthon; lit., “sneaked in alongside,” used only here and in Rom 5:20) the ranks, that is, they intruded without invitation into the apostles’ private conference. Their goals were twofold: first, to spy on (kataskopēsai, used only here in the NT) the freedom we have in Christ. With hostile intent, they purposed to observe the apostles’ freedom from the Mosaic Law and from the legalism it engenders. Second, they intended to make Christians slaves. They wanted to bring believers back into bondage, to enslave them to the Law’s rules and ceremonies. Specifically, they strongly insisted that Titus be circumcised. But Paul stood absolutely firm because the truth of the gospel was at stake for the Galatians and the entire Christian church. To impose circumcision on Titus would be to deny that salvation was by faith alone and to affirm that in addition to faith, there must be obedience to the Law for acceptance before God. Thus, the basic issue of the gospel was involved, and Paul would not deviate or yield for a moment.”
V5 We did not yield by giving in to them even briefly, so that the truth of the Gospel might stay with you permanently.
Principle: Remain faithful to the plain, normal teaching of the Scripture.
Principle: The Gospel of Jesus Christ never changes.
We learn:
- To stand firm in the plain, normal teaching of Scripture about everything.
- The Gospel is unchanged; it is faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
Questions:
- Have you been challenged about the meaning of the Gospel?
- Are you standing firm in your beliefs, or has logic and theology replaced it?