Reasons we Confront Legalism

But when I saw that they

ὅτε suggests that "At the point in time when" Paul saw what was going on, he spoke up to Peter.

Who is the "they"? Peter, Jews and Barnabas

The word "see" has the idea of perceiving or observing.

were not straightforward

What does it mean not to be straightforward? Not the right behavior.

The word Straightforward means to behave in the right manner. To act right or literally walk straight steps.

When Paul adds the not it demonstrates that Peter's actions were out of line.

about the truth of the gospel,

How was Peter's actions not straightforward with the truth of the Gospel?

ἀλήθεια: The word truth means that which is consistent with reality. That which is actually in line with reality. In this case it would be the reality of God.

εὐαγγέλιον: This noun is in the genitive. The content of the message is the Cross.

That the phrase would mean, " The message that is consistent with reality and good news from Jesus Christ."

How do we understand this truth in light of Christian liberty?

Reason #2: It compels others to adhere to legalism (14b-c)

I said to Cephas in the presence of all,

Paul confronts Peter, this is emphasized with the word "I said."

This seems to be done in front of all the people that walked away -- the Jewish believers and Barnabas.

This is because if Paul did not address this publicly, it would be possible that the church would think that this is okay. Then it is very likely that the practice would continue. It would also true that this was a public matter and need to be addressed publically.

“If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

Being a Jew: BDAG means Jew by ethnicity.

Live like a gentile:

Live: This means to live a certain manner.

Gentile: This would be a person who was not born into Jewish descent.

This means that the Peter was following certain manners of the gentiles.

How is it that you compel the gentiles to live like Jews?

Peter was compelling (ἀναγκάζω) the gentiles, those who were not born Jews, to live like the Jews.

The word means to force someone to do something. EDNT says, ", ; point to the realm of religious legal constraints."

This a similar construction to living like Gentiles, however the word is Jews. Thus, Peter was forcing Gentiles to live like the Jews.

What does it look like for Gentiles to live like Jews?

It would be that they would have been pressured to do something by force and fear but not by faith.

It would be full of the law. They would have to follow the law, which may even refer circumcision for sanctification, observing the Kosher law, sabbath laws.

Reasons #3: It’s contrary to the biblical view of justification (15-16)

Verse 15

Verse 16