Galatians Chapter 2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galatia_(Roman_province)

Introduction/Review

• Continuing study in Paul’s Epistles• Galatians written to a group of churches• Old Covenant vs. New Covenant• Only one Gospel – Not a combination• Paul is disappointed in them• Paul reestablishes his authority as an apostle• Seek approval from God, not man

Galatians 2:1-10

• Probably should have been part of Chapter 1• Paul’s authority from God, not from man – Not even from apostles in Jerusalem– Taught/learned for 3 years before going to Jerusalem -15

days, met with James and Peter• After 14 years visited Jerusalem – what date?– Conversion (Acts 9) 34 AD– First visit (Acts 9:26-30) 37 AD– Second visit (famine relief) 47 AD Gal. 2?– Third visit (Acts 15 - Council) 49 AD Gal. 2?

• Why did Paul go after 14 years?– Verse 2 because of revelation, Acts 15:2 appointed

to go– Opinion – God knows the controversy is growing

• Met Privately – Not wanting to cause a commotion– Not everybody needs to know everything– Elders can take care of things behind the scenes– Acts 15 doesn’t seem private to me

• Met with influential – the top dogs

• Titus not forced to be circumcised – Gentile/Greek (example for all / test case)– Jerusalem – center of Judaism – Must not be necessary

• Acts 16:3, Timothy circumcised – contradiction?• False brothers– Who were they– Probably Pharisees – not sure – Is there are false things, there must also be truth– Didn’t yield to them, held fast to the truth to preserve the Gospel

– Glad I don’t have to keep the law• Slavery versus freedom• Can take our freedom for granted

• God shows no partiality / personal favoritism – The truth matters, not the person saying it 1:8-9– Just because a preacher, elder or teacher

(especially me) says it, doesn’t make it truth!!!– Truth comes from God, – Paul just as much an apostle as the others

• Peter / Paul– Different field of work – Jew & Gentile– Superior / Inferior – no different roles– Right hand of fellowship (Mark 9:38)– We all have our field of work (1 Cor. 12:14, Rom.

12:4-8) – Be doing Something!!!!

• Remember the poor– Paul said he was EAGER to do– We can see Paul didn’t forget this– 1 Corinthians 16:1-4– 2 Corinthians 8-9– Help to bind the Gentile and Jewish Christians

together by sharing and showing their love for one another

– Love is an action word – like Faith• Without works they are both dead (James 2:17)

Galatians 2:11-14

• Paul opposes Peter– Peter not above failure or anyone else

• Peter not eating with Gentiles– Not physically at the same place / time– Obeying the Jewish dietary rules– Making a division in the church– Leading others into HYPOCRISY – Barnabas– OK until Jews came from Jerusalem• Fearing the circumcision group• Peer pressure can affect anyone

• How Paul handled Peter’s Hypocrisy?– Opposed him to his face– Verse 14 – “…to Cephas/Peter before them all”

• Was this appropriate?– Yes, because Paul did it– Matthew 18:15-20– 1 Corinthians 5:1-8– 1 Timothy 5:1– 1 Timothy 5:19-20

• Why correct Peter at all?– Because he was wrong / sinning (2:14)– To save him and others (James 5:19-20)– Discipline those you love (Hebrews 12:5-11)

• Attitude of Corrector and Correctee– Gentleness & Love• 2 Timothy 2:24-26

– All need to realize we need help at time– Not easy on either side of issue when the

motivation is correct

Galatians 2:15-21

• Seems like he is still talking to Peter/group at Antioch here and not the Galatians– See Chapter 3:1– Explaining to group, not just Peter

• No one justified by the works of the law (16)• Justified by faith in Christ– What does justified mean?

• Sins not remembered anymore – Hebrews 8:12

• Crucified with Christ– I’m dead, but Christ lives in me – Praise God!!

• Why was Jesus crucified (20)– Loved and gave Himself for me (us)

• Crucifixion was horrible– If Christ didn’t have to die, why did God do it?– Read verse 21 again

• Because of grace, Does that mean we don’t have to follow any rules?– Romans 6:1-4– James 2:14-26

• 1 Corinthians 9:19-23– 19 For though I am free from all, I have made

myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

• Acts 15:22-29– 22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the

whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”