Galatians 2

General context

Fourteen years later Paul goes up to Jerusalem again with Barnabas, taking Titus, and says he went by revelation. He set out the gospel he preaches among the Gentiles, privately to those of reputation, in case his running should prove vain. Titus, a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised, and Paul explains that the pressure came from false brethren brought in secretly to spy out the liberty of the believers, to whom he refused to yield for an hour. Those who seemed to be somewhat added nothing to him. Instead, seeing that the gospel of the uncircumcision had been committed to him as that of the circumcision was to Peter, James, Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, gave him and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, dividing the work between the heathen and the circumcision, with one request, that they remember the poor. The scene then shifts to Antioch, where Paul withstood Peter to the face. Before certain men came from James, Peter had eaten with Gentiles; afterwards he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those of the circumcision. Other Jews followed, and even Barnabas was carried away. Paul says he challenged Peter publicly for living as a Gentile while compelling Gentiles to live as Jews. From there the chapter turns into argument: a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ, rebuilding what was destroyed makes a man a transgressor, and Paul says he died to the law through the law, is crucified with Christ and lives by the faith of the Son of God. If righteousness came by the law, he says, Christ died for nothing.

Cited passages: Galatians 2:1, Galatians 2:2, Galatians 2:3, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 2:5, Galatians 2:6, Galatians 2:7, Galatians 2:9, Galatians 2:10, Galatians 2:11, Galatians 2:12, Galatians 2:13, Galatians 2:14, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:17, Galatians 2:18, Galatians 2:19, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 2:21

Galatians 2 (KJV)

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Historical context

The chapter names Barnabas, Titus, Peter, James, Cephas and John. It prints both Peter and Cephas within a few verses and never comments on the two names. Titus is identified as a Greek and as the test case, since he was not compelled to be circumcised. The interval, fourteen years after, is counted from the account just given rather than from any dated event, and the chapter supplies no year for either scene. Jerusalem and Antioch are the two places. The people who forced the issue are called false brethren unawares brought in and are not named; the men who arrived at Antioch are described only as certain came from James. The private meeting is said to have added nothing to Paul, and the only stipulation recorded is that we should remember the poor. The chapter quotes no scripture. It also does not mark where Paul's speech to Peter ends, so the point at which the report becomes the letter's own argument is left open.

Cited passages: Galatians 2:1, Galatians 2:3, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 2:6, Galatians 2:7, Galatians 2:9, Galatians 2:10, Galatians 2:11, Galatians 2:12, Galatians 2:14, Galatians 2:16

Literary context

Two scenes are told for one purpose, and both turn on whether anyone had to give way. In the first Paul concedes nothing and receives nothing, a point made by a phrase he repeats with visible impatience, who seemed to be somewhat, and again of those who seemed to be pillars. In the second the failure is not the opponents' but Peter's, and it is told as movement: he ate, then he withdrew and separated himself, and others followed him. The confrontation is quoted as direct speech and framed as a question, which leaves Peter's answer unrecorded. The chapter then slides from the report into argument without any marker, so the same voice that rebukes Peter carries on into justification by faith and ends in the first person singular. The last verses drop the plural entirely: crucified, living, loved, given for.

Cited passages: Galatians 2:2, Galatians 2:5, Galatians 2:6, Galatians 2:9, Galatians 2:11, Galatians 2:12, Galatians 2:13, Galatians 2:14, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:19, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 2:21

Key moments

1. Up to Jerusalem with Titus (Galatians 2:1). Paul travels with Barnabas and brings Titus with him.
2. Titus not compelled (Galatians 2:3). A Greek companion is not required to be circumcised.
3. Right hands of fellowship (Galatians 2:9). James, Cephas and John agree a division of the work.
4. Remember the poor (Galatians 2:10). The single request attached to the agreement.
5. Peter withdraws (Galatians 2:12). After men arrive from James, Peter stops eating with Gentiles.
6. Withstood to the face (Galatians 2:14). Paul challenges Peter publicly over the inconsistency.
7. Crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). The argument ends in the first person singular.

For reflection

Paul says he opposed Peter to the face because what Peter did in public did not match what he believed in private. When have you watched a gap like that and decided it was not your place to name it?

People in this chapter

• Jesus Christ
• Peter
• Barnabas
• Judah
• James (Brother of Jesus)
• Titus
• John the Apostle

Also indexed here:

• Javan