Galatians The Gospel and the Law Lesson 3 Paul’s Defense of “His” Gospel Galatians 2:1-10 Pages

From the Last Lesson… Paul was amazed the Galatians had so quickly left the gospel he preached to them for another “gospel” Paul was amazed the Galatians had so quickly left the gospel he preached to them for another “gospel” Some [Judaizers] among them had changed and distorted the gospel of Christ Some [Judaizers] among them had changed and distorted the gospel of Christ Any man preaching the perverted gospel would be accursed [under a curse of damnation] Any man preaching the perverted gospel would be accursed [under a curse of damnation] 2

From the Last Lesson… Paul defended his apostleship and authority Paul defended his apostleship and authority –At one time, he was extremely zealous in the Jewish religion –Later, he received authority from Jesus Christ to preach the gospel to the Gentiles He did not receive this authority from other apostles He did not receive this authority from other apostles Men did not teach him the gospel Men did not teach him the gospel –The people of Judea finally glorified God because Paul changed his life 3

Read Galatians 2:1-2 1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. 4

Paul’s Defense of “His” Gospel Galatians 2:1 Then, after fourteen years he went again to Jerusalem to meet with the brethren Then, after fourteen years he went again to Jerusalem to meet with the brethren –Barnabas and Titus were with him –(His first visit may be the one referred to in 1:19-19 when he stayed with Peter for fifteen days and also meet with James, the Lord’s brother) 5

Barnabas 1. His name was Joseph, a Levite, of the island of Cyprus (Acts 4:36) a.The name Barnabas [son of encouragement] was given by the apostles b.He was a prophet and teacher (Acts 13:1) 2. He was an early disciple of Christ (Acts 4:37) a.Sold land and laid the money at the apostles’ feet 3. He introduced Paul to the Jerusalem church (Acts 9:27) 4. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith (Acts 11:24) 1.He went with Paul on his first missionary journey 6

Paul’s Defense of “His” Gospel Galatians 2:2 He reported on the progress of the gospel to the Gentiles to the “pillars of the church” He reported on the progress of the gospel to the Gentiles to the “pillars of the church” –The “pillars” [persons of great eminence and importance] were the apostles and elders – –Paul and the others were “sent” by the Antioch church (Acts 15:3) in response to a “revelation” – –False brethren from Jerusalem had come to Antioch teaching that circumcision was essential for salvation (Acts 15:1-2) – –Luke, in Acts 15, appears to omit this private meeting 7

Paul’s Defense of “His” Gospel Galatians 2:2 He met with them privately to ensure a fair hearing on his accomplishments He met with them privately to ensure a fair hearing on his accomplishments If they opposed his stand on circumcision and on keeping the law of Moses, it would be an embarrassment on him and greatly diminish his effectiveness with the Gentiles If they opposed his stand on circumcision and on keeping the law of Moses, it would be an embarrassment on him and greatly diminish his effectiveness with the Gentiles –He would have “run in vain” with the Gentiles 8

Read Galatians 2:3-5 3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 9

Paul’s Defense of “His” Gospel Galatians 2:3 Immediately, certain false brethren challenged the validity of Paul’s labors who commanded that the law of Moses be kept Apparently, these false brethren attempted to make a test case of Titus, who was a Gentile, and demanded that he be circumcised 10

Titus 1. A Greek Christian a.Probably converted by Saul who calls him “my son” (Titus 1:4) b.He was not circumcised and was not forced to be circumcised c.His name is not mentioned in Acts – only in Galatians, Second Corinthians, Second Timothy and the letter that bears his name 2. He appointed elders in the churches of Crete (Titus 1:5) a.He silenced false teachers on Crete 3. He delivered the second recorded letter to the Corinthians 11

Paul’s Defense of “His” Gospel Galatians 2:4-5 Now Paul was going to the source and making his case to the apostles and elders to expose these false teachers False teachers [Judaizers] had secretly slipped in to spy out Paul’s arguments so they could argue for circumcision But, Paul did not yield his position for a moment – –He wanted the Galatians to know that their faith in the Lord without works of the Law must be preserved 12

Read Galatians 2:6-8 6 But from those who seemed to be something— whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 13

Paul’s Meeting with the “Pillars of the Church” Galatians 2:6 Paul refused to be intimidated by the “reputations” of those with whom he met – –He knew that he was called to be an apostle – –He knew that he preached by the Lord’s inspiration – –He knew that there had to be agreement among all those who led in the Lord’s work The other teachers “added nothing” to Paul’s understanding 14

Paul’s Meeting with the “Pillars of the Church” Galatians 2:7-8 Paul had been chosen by Christ to work as the prime mover of Gentiles to salvation by faith (Acts 26:17,18). Similarly, Peter was commissioned to be an effective force in leading Jews to the Lord. (See 1Peter and 2Peter.) The “influential” saw that Paul had been entrusted with the gospel just as they had been 15

Read Galatians 2: and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. 16

Paul’s Endorsement by “Pillars of the Church” Galatians 2:9 James, Peter, and John perceived that God was working through Paul They gave him the “right hand of fellowship” to continue to preach and work exactly as he had been doing The “right hand of fellowship” was… – –A symbolic gesture showing acceptance, equality, friendship, and an expression of interest in Paul’s work 17

Paul’s Endorsement by “Pillars of the Church” Galatians 2:10 The only suggestion offered to Paul by these “pillars” was that he “remember the poor” He was eager to do this – –He and Barnabas had earlier taken funds from the Antioch area to the elders in Jerusalem for needy saints (Acts 11:27-30) 18