No Other Gospel (Part 3)

Paul’s acceptance by the Apostles

Galatians 2:1–10 ESV

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Paul’s testimony of past events are used as an argument for his apostleship

This testimony includes a timeline, places, and names of which are accessibly for the Galatians to confirm his testimony

for example the Galatians could question the apostle peter, also known as Cephas, if Paul had recieved fellowship from Peter, James, and john to go out to the gentiles in the same manner as the other apostles were doing for the Jews during this particular visit to Jerusalem

Galatians 2:1 ESV

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.

There is debate on whether the visit to Jerusalem takes place an addition 14 years after the 3 years mentioned in 1:18 or if this is 14 years after Paul’s conversion

The latter seems more probably because the issue Paul has with the apostle peter in Antioch that we will see in 2:11-14, which we will cover next Youth Meeting, was already resolved in Acts 15 at the Jerusalem Council by Peter himself

The latter timeline also seems more probably because Paul does not appeal to the verdict of the Jerusalem Council during this letter to the Galatians, which certainly would be a strong appeal to authority to further strengthen his argument

The mention of Titus’ involvement in this trip to jerusalem is important for Paul’s argument, so keep that in mind

Galatians 2:2 ESV

2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.

The cause of Paul’s journey to Jerusalem was because of divine revelation from God- God directed this journey for Paul to lay out the doctrine that he had given the gentiles before the “those who seemed influential” which are the apostles James, Cephas, and John as seen 2:9

I do not believe that Paul was unsure if he was preaching the truth by simply testing the doctrine he gave to the gentiles by the approval of the apostles, but that there would be agreement between what Paul was teaching as the gospel to the gentiles and what the other apostles were teaching to the Jews

Paul was looking for unity and this unity in doctrinal belief with the other apostles is key in his argument here

Galatians 2:3–5 ESV

3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

We see that Titus, who is a gentile and uncircumcised, was not forced into circumcision and thus is not a requirement to be counted as a brother

though Titus could have been circumcised he was not because the “false brothers” would have used Titus’ circumcision as grounds to support their doctrine of faith plus the observation of ceremonial law, though there is nothing wrong with circumcision in and of itself

This was an exercise of a Christian’s freedom in Christ and thus the acceptance of Titus by the other apostles without the need to observe circumcision uproots the false brother’s doctrine

That doctrine taught by the false brothers would enslave us to the law because it then becomes a requirement for us to fulfill the law for our salvation, voiding the work of Christ’s fulfillment of the law

That is not the gospel and would then not be preserved for us

Galatians 2:6–9 ESV

6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Verse 6 highlights that there is no difference in standing between Paul and the other Apostles, they hold the same status and authority

The other apostles added nothing to Paul in his teaching, they did not make any correction to the doctrine of the gospel that Paul taught

What we see in verse 7 is that the apostles recognize that God had entrusted, called, Paul with the labor of bringing the gospel to the gentiles in the same manner that Peter was called to bring it forth to the Jews, of which Paul was doing for 3 years prior to meeting with them (this charge did not come for the apostles, but the apostles recognized that Paul’s calling came from God through divine revelation)

This is a delegation of labor and an example of the different roles we play in the Kingdom of God as members of the church body, this is not a means to elevate one believer over another in worth

Verse 8 is showing us that the same work of God that was being displayed in Peter’s apostolic ministry is the same work of God being used in Paul’s to the gentiles

When Paul states that he apostles James, Cephas, and john, who “seemed to be pillars” is quoting the general opinion of the church of the apostles as being held in high honor due to their spiritual gifts and calling in upholding the church. This is an appeal to consider the apostles’ stance on Paul and what he taught with high regard

For the apostles to give the right hand of fellowship to Paul and Barnabas to go out to the gentiles and they to the Jews is an approval of Paul’s apostolic ministry

Galatians 2:10 ESV

10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

While there were distinctions and division of labor in the ministries of Paul and the other apostles, one area which overlapped was the collection of funds and resources for the poor of the church

We see in Romans 15:25-26, 1 Cor. 16:1-3, 2 Cor. Chapters 8-9 that Paul encourages the churches as a whole to give generously to support those in need that are in need, especially those in the church

This is a reminder that we should contribute to physical needs alongside the preaching of the gospel, just as Christ did during his ministry

Faith without works is dead, good works are an evidence of our faith