Galatians 2
Chapter 2 starts
Paul has been stressing:No consultationsSpeaking from revelationGospel of JesusHis apostleship was genuineGalatians 2:1-10
Paul begins to make his second pointFirst:Direct appointment to apostleshipPreaching by revelation of JesusSecond:Fellowship with other apostlesOthers endorsed his messageAfter 14 years (Galatians 2:1) – a time during which:Galatians heard the gospel and believedPaul established churchesNo change in message over timeHe went “up” to JerusalemNot north/southTo Jerusalem – “up”Compare:II Samuel 19:34I Kings 12:28 – Jeroboam, calvesII Kings 24:10Ezra 1:3Isaiah 7:1Zechariah 14:17Matthew 20:17Acts – 9 timesWhich trip was this? The same as Acts 15?Arguments for this being the same trip as mentioned in Acts 15:Together with Barnabas – Acts 15:2; Galatians 2:1From Syria – Acts 14:26-28; Galatians 1:21To Jerusalem – Ats 15:2-4; Galatians 2:1Opposition of Judaizing Christians – Acts 15:5; Galatians 2:3-5Involvement of Peter and JamesPeter – Acts 15:7-11; Galatians 2:7-9James – Acts 15:13-21; Galatians 2:9All agreed on a conclusion – Acts 15:19-29; Galatians 2:7-10Why take Titus along?Ideas: Challenge to Judaizing Christians:Show of force?See if apostles objected or commanded he be circumcised?Paul says he went up because of a revelation in Galatians 2:2.Acts 15:2 says they were sent by brethren.Discrepancy? No!Look at Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10Cornelius – vision – sent messengersPeter – vision – received messengers – wentWhat he sent or was he summoned?By vision or by human request?Both, of course, just as in Acts 15 and Galatians 2What are these false brethren in Galatians 2:4 – pseudadelphosTwo references: Galatians 2:4 and II Corinthians 11:26Pretending, but not brethrenPlanted by others to spy – motivationBring Gentile Christians into the bondage of the Law of MosesWhy?Jealousy? (Acts 13:45; 17:5)Paul and his group did not give in to them – kept gospel pure for them (Galatians 2:5)Key apostles (those of high reputation, pillars) added nothing to Paul’s messageInstead, they granted the right hand of fellowshipAgreed to continue the two paths:The twelve to the JewsPaul to the GentilesStrictly? Who first preached to the Gentiles?How about the men of Cyprus and Cyrene? Barnabas? Acts 11:19-26Who did Paul always go to first? JewsWho had Peter already gone to? Jews AND GentilesThe two-gospel heresyCentral reference is Galatians 2:7Gospel “of,”, “for,” or “to” the circumcision/uncircumcision implies separate gospels.Gospel for the Jews, different gospel for the Gentiles.Repentance and baptism for the Jews.Faith and grace for the Gentiles.Problems with this two-gospel idea:Paul in Galatians 1:8-9 (sent to a mixed audience)How did this message change when leaving the synagogue for the Gentiles?ConclusionThis is a heresyPerpetrators are to be “anathema”At the conference’s end:The pillars of Jerusalem extend the right hand of fellowship to Paul’s groupOnly ask to remember the poorWhat about Acts 15Things polluted by idolsFornicationThings strangledBloodThese were directed, required, “only burdens” from Old Law“Remember the poor” was a request – Don’t neglect to preach to the poor.Possibly reminiscent of references in Acts 7 and 11 to famines, both actual and prophesied.
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