Greetings everyone.
We will look at verses 4-10 in Galatians 2. Here is my translation:
4 But false brothers had slipped in. They had snuck in amongst us to spy on the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in an attempt to make slaves of us. 5 We did not submit to this, even for a short time, so that the truth of the Gospel would remain in you.
6 As for those held in high regard, I received nothing additional from them. (It does not matter to me, as God shows no partiality.) 7 Rather, they saw that I had been entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel to the uncircumcised, just like Peter was sent to those who have been circumcised. 8 For the One who is at work in Peter in his mission to the circumcised, is also at work in me, in my mission to the Gentiles. 9 So, when those known to be pillars, James, Cephas and John, saw the grace that had been given to Barnabus and I, they gave us the right hand of fellowship, so that they would go among the circumcised, and we would go among the Gentiles. 10 One thing they asked of us, that we remember the poor, something that I was eager to do.
Christianity is not supposed to be enslaving, but this is the comparison Paul makes with emphasis on the Law being pushed by these “false brothers.” Strict obedience to the Old Law is seen equated with slavery.
Who are these men? Paul paints a very negative picture of them. He portrays them as men who "snuck in" amongst the fellowship as spies for the purpose of taking away their freedom in Christ and enslaving them with the Law. I love what John Stott says about this: “Paul saw the issue plainly. It was not a question of circumcision and uncircumcision, of Gentile and Jewish customs. It was a matter of fundamental importance regarding the truth of the gospel, namely, of Christian freedom versus bondage. The Christian has been set free in the sense that his acceptance before God depends entirely upon God’s grace in the death of Jesus Christ received by faith. To introduce the works of the law and make our acceptance depend on our obedience to rules and regulations was to bring a free man into bondage again.” (Stott, 43.)
Paul makes note in verse 5 that they did not even entertain the idea that was being pushed by these false teachers, He says “We did not submit to this even for a short time” Paul had no interest in placating this crowd, and he knew that this false gospel was not a part of the gospel that God had taught him. Paul goes on to give the reasoning behind their refusal. Paul continues, “So that the truth of the gospel would remain in you.” He is fighting for the truth of the gospel. What is that truth? The gospel is grace and freedom, not adherence to the law, which ultimately becomes bondage.
Going on to verse 6-9, Paul returns to his discussion of his time with the apostles. He states that he had received nothing additional from, but that they each had their own God-given mission. They had their mission to the Jews, and he had his mission to the Gentiles. Paul states in verse 7 that they acknowledged that Paul had been entrusted with this mission to the Gentiles. This is important, as Paul makes the case that the same God who gave Peter, James and John their mission to the Jews is the same God who gave him the mission to the Gentiles, and that He does not show partiality. One mission was not more important than the other.
Paul refers to those in Jerusalem, likely, those three in particular, as “those held in high regard” in verse 6 and “those known to be pillars” in verse 9. He is making reference to some of the great leaders of church, those whose thoughts and opinions would hold great sway among the believers. I mean, we are talking about Peter and John, two of Jesus’ innermost circle, and James, the Lord’s brother. Three of the most influential people in the early church, if not the three most influential. If they were to listen to anyone, it would be them. Stott makes notes that these men had all walked with Jesus in his physical presence on the Earth, while Paul likely had not.
It is likely that Paul’s detractors are coming into the Galatian churches and telling them that Paul’s gospel is not consistent with the gospel that the Apostles in Jerusalem are teaching. That is why Paul is now discussing them in this light. Those pillars have heard the gospel that he is teaching, and they agree with it. In fact, they are teaching the same gospel, Peter, James and John to the Jews, and Paul and Barnabus to the Gentiles.
He continues, stating that they extended to him and Barnabus the right hand of fellowship and send them on their way, so that both parties could complete their various missions. Paul is not not at odds with the leaders in Jerusalem. Paul strengthens his point that the one and only gospel, the gospel he and the apostles are teahcing, was and still is the gospel of God's grace.
Thsi section of scripure closes with an acknowledgement that the one request made of Paul and Barnabus upon parting, is that Paul and Barnabus continue to remember the poor. This is not mentioned in the Acts 15 letter, but Paul states that this was something that he was eager to do, anyway, so one could assume that Paul would have done this regardless. The thing to note here is that helping the poor is something that both groups saw as important.
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