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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE LETTER TO THE GALATIANS

CHAPTER TWO:
“EMPOWERED FOR APOSTLESHIP”

[“Unyielding Power”]
Key Word: Powers
Theme Verse: 8

Galatians 2:1-5 – Paul’s Gospel Put to Apostles

GA2:1 Now fifteen years later I ascended to Jerusalem again accompanied by Barnabas 27 and Titus. 28

27	Barnabas: An early missionary companion of Paul. [Acts 9:27] This is possibly at the point described in Acts 15:2.

28	Titus: He is not mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. [2 Corinthians 2:13; 7:6, 13, 14; 8:6, 16, 23; 12:18; 2 Timothy 4:10; Titus 1:4]

GA2:2 I went there because of a revelation 29 and I put before those men of high reputation the Gospel I was preaching 30 among the non-Jews. I did this because I did not want in some way to have run my course in vain. 31

29	I went up by revelation: Or, divine revelation [WMS]. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #602 as above. The third time Paul has stressed this matter of something divinely revealed to emphasize the Gospel is not form a human origin. A pneumatic gift in the early Church. [1 Corinthians 14:6]

30	The gospel which I preach: For over 12 years. [Acts 15:12]

31	Run in vain: Or, to make sure that my course of action would be and had been sound [MOF]. Though his calling is, Paul is not independent of the apostolic body in Jerusalem and indicates here that they would have something of a controlling authority of the subjects of his gospel.

GA2:3 However, even my companion Titus was not forced to become circumcised 32 even though he was a Greek. GA2:4, 5 We did not yield 33 submissively for a moment to those pseudo-brothers who were sent in secretly 34 to spy on our freedom 35 in Christ Jesus – and this to try and force us into a form of slavery. 36 And so, the true Gospel was preserved on your account.

32	Circumcised: The Judaizers of Acts 15:1, 2 wanted the law of circumcision enforced upon the non-Jews. In addition they wanted observance of the Law of Moses. Later Paul has Timothy circumcised “because of the Jews.” [Acts 16:3]

33	Not yield: Or, did not give those men an inch [PM]. This might indicate these false brothers among the Jewish interests had a degree of authority.

34

Pseudo-brothers: Or, pseudo brethren, false brothers. The Greek is PSEUDADELPHOUS [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5569, one who ostentatiously professes to be a Christian, but is destitute of Christian knowledge and piety] Who brought in these pseudo brothers? It was likely those Jewish factions of Acts 15:1, 2. Compare 2 Corinthians 11:3, 4, 13, 13, 26.

35	To spy: Or, smuggled into [NOR], wormed their way [PME]. This is a politically sneaky move by the Judaizers. Paul is not bound to Moses and the Law, and these false brothers want to find a reason for complaint against him.

36	Form of slavery: To the Law of Moses. Note the word “slave” or “slavery” elsewhere in Galatians

Review Questions

Galatians 2:6-10 – Empowered as Apostle to Non-Jews

GA2:6 Now these reputed leaders 37 – what they were makes no difference to me for God shows no partiality [Deuteronomy 10:17] – indeed, I can tell you, that those reputable leaders taught me nothing 38 –

37	Reputed to be something: Or, chief reputation [CON], reputed leaders [WEY], leaders of the conference [PME], consider leaders [NOR]. This places these false brothers very high within the apostolic body.

38	Added nothing to me: Or, no new instruction, no new suggestion.

GA2:7 but instead when they realized 39 that I had been entrusted with the Gospel to the uncircumcised non-Jews – exactly as Peter had been entrusted with the Gospel to the circumcised Jews –

39	When they saw: This suggests Paul is dealing with those in authority at the Jerusalem conference.

GA2:8 for the same One who used Peter in a ministry to the circumcised Jews also used me in behalf of the non-Jews – GA2:9 and so when they were convinced that unmerited charity [from God] had been bestowed on me, James, Cephas and John – the reputed pillars – gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship. 40 So it was decided that we should visit the non-Jews 41 while they the circumcised Jews.

40	Gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship: Or, cooperation [GDS], partners [NEB]. James, Peter and John. Most likely this “James” is not the apostle, but the Lord’s brother. These “pillars” accept Paul’s ministry to the non-Jews.

41

To the non-Jews: This is one of the reasons we hear little of the apostles after Acts chapter 15. This caused something of a natural division in the Church between Jew and non-Jew. It is interesting that despite Paul’s having a ministry to the non-Jews he uses the Jewish system in the synagogues to teach the Gospel.

GA2:10 However, they wanted us to remember the poor 42 and that is something I was quick to do.

42	Remember the poor: This happens to be many of the Jewish Christians in Judea. [1 Corinthians 16:1]

Review Questions

Galatians 2:11-14 – Cephas Rebuked

GA2:11 However, when Cephas arrived in Antioch I took a stand against him right to his face, 43 because he was condemned.

43	Right to his face: This is a “pillar” and Paul’s stand would normally be a terrible political blunder, for hierarchies do not take well to opposition or rebuke.

GA2:12 This is because before certain representatives from James 44 arrived, he would eat with the non-Jews. 45 But when these men arrived he withdrew and separated himself 46 from the non-Jews out of fear of those from the Circumcision [schism]. 47

44	Certain representatives from James: This indicates James’ power in the early Church at this time. It is possible some of these were also those false brothers mentioned above.

45	He ate with the non-Jews: Jews did not socialize with non-Jews. Compare Acts 10:28; 11:3.

46	He drew back and separated himself: This is a hypocritical act, to behave one way in front of some people, and another way before others. It indicates the severe problem within the early Church, with certain Jewish Christians trying to enforce Jewish ideas upon the Church.

47

Fearing the circumcision party: Or, of the circumcision, Jews. Paul means those representatives from James who were most likely circumcised Christian Jews who still insisted on observing Jewish customs. Peter failed in the principle at Proverbs 29:25. It indicates the power of these Judaizers in the Church if Peter should fear them. Later James and his representatives was to play politics with Paul when he mentions the large numbers of Jews who were becoming Christians, and yet continued to be zealous for the Law of Moses. [Acts 21:20]

GA2:13 Also, along with him the other [Christian] Jews behaved hypocritically, 48 so that even Barnabas was held captive by their hypocrisy. 49

48	Hypocritically: Or, false to their principles, played the hypocrite. Paul means those Christians who were formerly Jews.

49	Barnabas: Or, hypocrisy. Paul virtually stands alone, a delicate position in a political battle.

GA2:14 However, when I realized that all of them were not walking in line with the truth of the Gospel, 50 I told Cephas in front of everybody, 51 “If you as a Jew live like a non-Jew and not a Jew, why do you try to force the non-Jews to live like Jews?” 52

50	Not walking in line the truth of the Gospel: Or, KJV: walked not uprightly; KNX: not following the true path; NEB: conduct not square.

51	I said to Cephas: All those “men from James” [members of the Jewish schism] were also present, so surely this got back to those powers in Jerusalem. It takes great courage and faith for a man to confront his senior on matters of truth. Jesus has chosen the right man.

52

Live like Jews: The answer is, you cannot. The Church is not Jewish, nor bound by the Law of Moses, or any other Jewish customs. See notes on Romans 7:4, 6 in Nazarene Commentary 2000©. From the language it would seem Peter did, as part of the Jewish movement in Christianity, try to force non-Jews to become Jews.

Review Questions

Galatians 2:15-21 – Justified by Faith, Not Works

GA2:15 We, who are Jews by birth 53 and not non-Jewish sinners,

53

Jews by birth: Many of the earliest Christian disciples were Jews. So the Church had a strong “Jewish” beginning and many of these former Pharisees wanted to bring their attitudes and love of regulations into the Church. Paul was an exception, a fearless voice willing to stand up to those Jewish powers in Peter and James. The Church leadership had taken a wrong path, and this is likely the reason the glorified Master needs to select a man from the outside, Paul.

GA2:16 realize that a person is not pronounced innocent by works 54 of the Law [of Moses] But rather because of deep conviction in Jesus Christ. We have become believers in Christ Jesus so we may be pronounced innocent by our faith in Christ and not by works of the Law [of Moses]. Because by works of the Law [of Moses] no one will be pronounced innocent.

54	Works of the Law: The Greek is DIKAIOO [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1344, to render righteous or such he ought to be]. He means by observance of the Law of Moses that these Jews were insisting on. Compare Acts 13:37.

GA2:17 However, if in the process of being pronounced innocent in union with Christ we are discovered to be sinners, has Christ become sin’s agent? Absolutely not! GA2:18 But, if I construct again what I just tore down 55 then I constitute myself to be a transgressor.

55	I tore down: That is, a belief that observance of the Law of Moses some how justifies one. Paul has written that Christians are “dead to the Law.” [Romans 7:1ff]

GA2:19 For by means of the Law [of Moses] I died to such Law 56 that I might now live to God.

56	Died to the law: A dead man does not observe the Law of Moses. [Romans 7:1ff]

GA2:20 I have been impaled with Christ, so it is no longer me that lives, but rather Christ who lives in me. So my fleshly life now I live in harmony with deep conviction in the Son of God – the One who loved me and sacrificed himself for me. GA2:21 Never do I set aside the unmerited charity of God. For if a pronouncement of innocence was because of the Law 57 [of Moses] then Christ did not die as a free gift.

57	The law: That is, the Law of Moses.

Review Questions

Summary of Chapter Two