Galatians - Chapter 2
THE SEARCH FOR UNITY
1-10 How did a church which started as a small group of Jewish followers in Jerusalem at the time of the resurrection come to be a predominantly Gentile movement by the end of the first century?
The meeting in Jerusalem indicating the depth of the Jew/Gentile issue within the early church was successful in smoothing the path for further growth by Paul clarifying the gospel as “ONE GOSPEL OF GRACE FOR ALL”.
Verses 1-10 are structured in three parts:
1-2 gives the reasons for Paul’s trip to Jerusalem with Barnabas & Titus. Note: Paul advises we went by “revelation” and to communicate the gospel he preached to the Gentiles.
3-5 relates the circumstances surrounding the possible circumcision of Titus.
The question is an interesting one as Paul is resistant to the idea of the circumcision of Titus while he had arranged the circumcision of Timothy as related in Acts 16:3.
Timothy’s mother was Jewish and Paul felt he had the freedom to so act in order to better communicate the gospel to Jews (1 Cor 9:19-23).
With Titus the situation was different, as he was to focus upon the Gentiles and Paul was pressured by the “false brethren” and likely felt he should not yield his liberty (freedom) to decide based upon such pressure.
Perhaps these two opposite actions Paul took reflect his idea that God has graciously relieved humanity from such religious restrictions in the service of the gospel. Today, we might just say, “IT DOES NOT MATTER”.
6-10 records the actual meeting with the “pillar apostles”, the recognition they give to Paul’s authority, and the agreement that a common mission exists with different paths to the same end.
11-21 Contending for the Truth of the Gospel
Paul introduces for the first time in this letter the language of justification and he sets the clear choice between “works of the law” and “faith in Christ”. Then he quickly turns to the theme of “dying with Christ” to indicate that one can be immune to the law while alive to God.
Note: Martin Luther devoted 80 pages of his commentary on Galatians to these eleven verses.
Luther wrote that after all his years of intense study and inner conflict as to what doctrine finally separated him from the Roman church, all of his protest centered upon Galatians 2:16. It was on this one verse that he said the entire foundation of his 95 Theses nailed to his church door rested.
Note: It seems important to focus upon the thought that Paul’s confrontation with Peter at Antioch was not one of theology, or power struggle, or perhaps some thought to reduce Peter’s primary position among the apostles. Peter seemed to be acting in one regard as over zealous in his Jewishness when he ate with Gentiles until others from Jerusalem arrived and then reversed himself.
Paul confronted him and essentially brought forth the idea that still needs our work today, that of the table of fellowship, unified in Christ.
We might summarize the strength of Paul’s position quite simply as:
Grace with strings attached is no grace at all.
Paul’s understanding of justification is made clear to us in this chapter as:
His belief that the entry of the Gentiles into the church was as a result of the work of Christ no less than for the Jews who were converting.
Justification brought righteousness from God to the believer as sinners are brought into a right relationship as they are now “in Christ” and are no longer concerned with service to the law but rather to service to a higher power, Jesus, who, through His grace, makes it possible AND now lives within the believer himself (see 2:20).
Entrance into Abraham’s family comes by hearing and believing through grace given as we accept in faith, NOT by birth.
Justification is not only a gift but also a demand, requiring not passive thought but active obedience as we bear fruit for the kingdom.