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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Galatians Chapter 2 

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Paul
Date Penned: (49 AD)
Overview: Paul Refutes the Judaizers (c 1-6)
Theme: Authenticity of the Gospel (c 1-2)
Message: Paul's Acceptance (v 1-24)

Galatians 2 Commentary

(2:1-10) The Apostles Accept Paul - To defend himself against the Judaizers’ charges, the apostle pointed to his fourteen years of independent ministry between his first two visits to Jerusalem following his conversion. He functioned directly under Jesus’ authority during that time, not under the official body at Jerusalem. He helped the Galatians understand the complex relationship existing between himself and the apostles in Jerusalem. So when Paul wrote about his visit to the mother church, he showed both his independence from the other apostles’ authority and his respect for them. Paul gave four significant aspects of his visit that established his credentials: (1) the companions on his journey; (2) the content of his message; (3) the confirmation of his ministry; and (4) his commission to come to Jerusalem.

(2:11-21) Paul Confronts Peter - With the speed of a remote control switch, the scene changed as Paul began to explain another time when his authority as an apostle had been confirmed. The setting switched from Jerusalem (2:1-10) to Antioch, a Gentile city familiar to the Galatians (2:11-21). In Antioch, Paul had faced another conflict over his authority. At that time, however, he openly opposed the actions of the apostle Peter himself. Peter had arrived in Antioch and had been warmly welcomed by the church. He, Paul, Barnabas, and the rest of the leadership fellowshiped, taught, and ate together regularly. Then a delegation arrived from Jerusalem, and almost immediately Peter’s treatment of the Gentile Christians changed. He kept his distance from them. Others, including Barnabas, followed Peter’s example. But Paul leaped into the breach with a ringing confrontation.

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Living By Faith

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Galatians with Chapter 2 and in our text we see how the apostles accepted Paul and how he reminds us that we are justified by faith in Christ and how we are to live the Christian life. It is not only faith that justifies us but as Christians we are to live by faith in the Lord Jesus. How About you? Are you living by faith? Let us learn from our text today and the reminders of Paul that we are justified through faith in Christ but we are also to live by faith every day as we walk in the light of the Lord Jesus.

 

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Galatians 2

Galatians 2

 1Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

 2And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

 3But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

 4And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

 5To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

 6But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

 7But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

 8(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

 9And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

 10Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

 11But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

 12For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

 13And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

 14But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

 15We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

 16Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

 17But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

 18For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

 19For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

 20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.