Galatians 2

In this chapter, Paul continues to defend his apostolic authority, recounting his visit to Jerusalem to meet with the leaders of the early church. He emphasizes the unity of the gospel message, the role of faith over the law, and his confrontation with Peter over hypocrisy concerning Gentile believers.

Galatians 2:1 (NKJV):
"Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me."

Paul, after 14 years, returns to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas and Titus. This visit was significant as Titus, a Gentile, represented the inclusion of non-Jews into the faith. Paul’s visit symbolizes his desire for unity between Jewish and Gentile believers.

Galatians 2:2 (NKJV):
"And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain."

Paul went to Jerusalem not on his own accord but by divine revelation. He shared the gospel he preached to the Gentiles with the influential leaders in private. This approach ensured that there would be no misunderstanding or division in the church’s mission.

Galatians 2:3 (NKJV):
"Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised."

Despite being a Greek, Titus was not forced to be circumcised, illustrating the freedom from the Jewish ceremonial law that Paul preached. This event reinforced that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not by adhering to the Jewish law.

Galatians 2:4 (NKJV):
"And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),"

False believers infiltrated the church to undermine the freedom that comes through Christ by attempting to impose the Mosaic law, especially circumcision, on Gentile converts. Paul identifies this as a tactic to bring them back into spiritual bondage.

Galatians 2:5 (NKJV):
"to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you."

Paul did not compromise with these false brethren even briefly, standing firm to preserve the purity of the gospel. This unwavering stance ensured that the true message of salvation through faith in Christ alone would continue untainted.

Galatians 2:6 (NKJV):
"But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me."

Paul acknowledges the prominent leaders in the church but asserts that their status did not add anything to his message. He emphasizes that God does not show favoritism, and the authority of his gospel comes from God, not from human leaders.

Galatians 2:7 (NKJV):
"But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter"

The leaders in Jerusalem recognized that Paul had been entrusted with preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been called to minister to the Jews. This acknowledgment affirmed the distinct yet complementary roles in spreading the gospel.

Galatians 2:8 (NKJV):
"(for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),"

Paul explains that the same God who empowered Peter’s ministry to the Jews was also at work in his own ministry to the Gentiles. This highlights the unity of God’s mission through both apostles, despite their different audiences.

Galatians 2:9 (NKJV):
"and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised."

The pillars of the church, James, Peter (Cephas), and John, acknowledged Paul’s divine calling and extended their fellowship to him and Barnabas. They endorsed Paul’s mission to the Gentiles while they continued ministering to the Jews.

Galatians 2:10 (NKJV):
"They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do."

The only request the Jerusalem leaders made of Paul was to continue supporting the poor, which he was already committed to doing. This shows the common concern for social justice and care for the less fortunate within the early Christian movement.

Galatians 2:11 (NKJV):
"Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;"

When Peter came to Antioch, Paul confronted him directly because Peter was acting hypocritically. This bold confrontation shows Paul's commitment to defending the truth of the gospel, even against prominent church leaders.

Galatians 2:12 (NKJV):
"For before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision."

Before Jewish believers arrived from James, Peter freely ate with Gentile believers, but when they arrived, he withdrew out of fear of criticism. His actions contradicted the gospel's message of unity and equality in Christ, regardless of ethnicity.

Galatians 2:13 (NKJV):
"And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy."

Peter's behavior led other Jewish believers, including Barnabas, to follow his example, creating division. This hypocrisy endangered the message of unity and equality between Jews and Gentiles in Christ, prompting Paul to act.

Galatians 2:14 (NKJV):
"But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, 'If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?'"

Paul publicly rebuked Peter for inconsistency. Peter, who lived like a Gentile, was now implying that Gentiles should follow Jewish customs. This confrontation highlighted the importance of living out the truth of the gospel without compromising its message of grace.

Galatians 2:15 (NKJV):
"We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,"

Paul begins to explain that even Jews, who were born into the covenant, recognize that their righteousness does not come from observing the law. By calling Gentiles "sinners," he refers to how they were viewed by Jews, setting up his argument for justification by faith.

Galatians 2:16 (NKJV):
"knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."

Paul emphasizes that no one can be justified—declared righteous—through the works of the law. Both Jews and Gentiles are justified through faith in Christ alone, not by adhering to the law. This foundational truth of the gospel applies to all believers equally.

Galatians 2:17 (NKJV):
"But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!"

Paul addresses a potential misunderstanding. If believers in Christ, who are justified by faith, are still considered sinners, it doesn’t mean that Christ promotes sin. He strongly denies this, affirming that salvation through faith does not lead to a sinful life.

Galatians 2:18 (NKJV):
"For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor."

If Paul were to revert to the law after preaching freedom from it, he would be rebuilding the very system he tore down. By doing so, he would only show himself to be guilty, as the law cannot save or justify him.

Galatians 2:19 (NKJV):
"For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God."

Paul explains that through the law's demands, he realized his inability to fulfill it and thus "died" to it. This death to the law allowed him to live for God in freedom through Christ. He is no longer under the law’s condemnation.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV):
"I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me."

Paul declares his union with Christ’s death, signifying the end of his old self. His new life is now empowered by Christ living in him, and it is lived out through faith. This is rooted in Christ’s sacrificial love and the believer’s dependence on Him.

Galatians 2:21 (NKJV):
"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

Paul concludes by affirming that the grace of God is central to salvation. If righteousness could be achieved through the law, then Christ’s death would be meaningless. This highlights the futility of relying on the law and the necessity of grace through faith in Christ.