Galations 2

     I tend to agree with those who believe Galatians was written shortly after Paul and Barnabas returned from their first missionary trip (their only one together).  If so, Peter’s visit to Antioch (11) took place between this trip to Jerusalem (1-10) and Paul’s subsequent trip described in Acts 15.  Then this private visit by Paul with the leaders in Jerusalem (2) might be the one mentioned in Acts 11:29-30.  Continuing difficulties with Jews from Jerusalem after Peter’s visit led to the public council in Jerusalem of Acts 15.

     2:1-10.  In this private meeting with the leaders in Jerusalem, Paul’s gospel message and ministry to the Gentiles was completely approved, though Paul makes it quite clear he could not have altered it even if they had not approved, for he was answerable in this regard only to God.  But the opposition had come not from these leaders, but from false brethren (4).  Paul had had Timothy, whose mother was a Jewess, circumcised so as not to needlessly offend the Jews (Acts 16:1-3).  But to have the Gentile Titus circumcised would have added the keeping of the Law to the gospel as a necessity of salvation.  This would not only have been a stumbling block to the Gentiles, but would have denied the need and sufficiency of the new covenant (5, 21).

     2:11-14.  Clearly this was a momentary stumble by Peter.  He very well knew, as his initial actions proved, that we have liberty in Christ from the bondage of the law.  It was only types and shadows of the good things to come (Col.2:17; Heb.10:1).  In trying not to offend some Jews who had a defective understanding of the gospel, Peter was excluding the Gentiles, and threatening the unity of the church.  He would not make that mistake again (see Acts 15:7-11).  James was not a promoter of the party of the circumcision (9), but he was the recognized leader of the Jerusalem church from which these men came (12).

      All punctuation marks are modern additions.  I believe Paul’s direct quote to Peter should end with v.14 (see margin).  What follows is Paul’s explanation to the Galatians, and these remarks continue right into 3:1 and following.

     2:15-21.  Here we get to the heart of the problem.  How is a sinner justified before a holy God?  The gospel answer is, by God’s grace alone through Christ alone.  If we add anything to that, from the Law or anywhere else, we are saying that what God did in Christ was insufficient, that receiving God’s grace by faith has left us still seeking a way to justify ourselves before him (18).  But Christ is our perfect sacrifice and redeemer.  In him, we are dead to sin, and to the Law that condemned us (16, 20).  We do not nullify the grace of God.  If the Law could save us, Christ need not have died for us (21).  See WSC Q.33.