Then fourteen years after — My first journey thither. I went up again to Jerusalem — This seems to be the journey mentioned Acts 15:2; several passages here referring to that great council, wherein all the apostles showed that they were of the same judgment with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
I went up — Not by any command from them, but by an express revelation from God. And laid before them — The chief of the church in Jerusalem. The gospel which I preach among the gentiles — Acts 15:4, touching justification by faith alone; not that they might confirm me therein, but that I might remo... [ Continue Reading ]
But neither was Titus who was with me — When I conversed with them. Compelled to be circumcised — A clear proof that none of the apostles insisted on the circumcising gentile believers. The sense is, And it is true, some of those false brethren would fain have compelled Titus to be circumcised; but... [ Continue Reading ]
Because of false brethren — Who seem to have urged it. Introduced unawares — Into some of those private conferences at Jerusalem. Who had slipped in to spy out our liberty — From the ceremonial law. That they might, if possible, bring us into that bondage again.... [ Continue Reading ]
To whom we did not yield by submission — Although in love he would have yielded to any. With such wonderful prudence did the apostle use his Christian liberty ! circumcising Timothy, Acts 16:3, because of weak brethren, but not Titus, because of false brethren. That the truth of the gospel — That is... [ Continue Reading ]
And they who undoubtedly were something — Above all others. What they were — How eminent soever. It is no difference to me — So that I should alter either my doctrine or my practice. God accepteth no man's person — For any eminence in gifts or outward prerogatives. In that conference added nothing t... [ Continue Reading ]
But when they saw — By the effects which I laid before them, Galatians 2:8; Acts 15:12. That I was intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision — That is, with the charge of preaching it to the uncircumcised heathens.... [ Continue Reading ]
For he that wrought effectually in Peter for the apostleship of the circumcision — To qualify him for, and support him in, the discharge of that office to the Jews. Wrought likewise effectually in and by me — For and in the discharge of my office toward the gentiles.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when James — Probably named first because he was bishop of the church in Jerusalem. And Cephas — Speaking of him at Jerusalem he calls him by his Hebrew name. And John — Hence it appears that he also was at the council, though he is not particularly named in the Acts. Who undoubtedly were pillar... [ Continue Reading ]
Of the poor — The poor Christians in Judea, who had lost all they had for Christ's sake.... [ Continue Reading ]
But — The argument here comes to the height. Paul reproves Peter himself. So far was he from receiving his doctrine from man, or from being inferior to the chief of the apostles. When Peter — Afterwards, Came to Antioch — Then the chief of all the Gentile churches. I withstood him to the face, becau... [ Continue Reading ]
And the other believing Jews — Who were at Antioch. Dissembled with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation — Was borne away, as with a torrent, into the same ill practice.... [ Continue Reading ]
I said to Cephas before them all — See Paul single against Peter and all the Jews! If thou being a Jew, yet livest, in thy ordinary conversation, after the manner of the gentiles — Not observing the ceremonial law, which thou knowest to be now abolished. Why compellest thou the gentiles — By withdra... [ Continue Reading ]
We — St. Paul, to spare St. Peter, drops the first person singular, and speaks in the plural number. Galatians 2:18, he speaks in the first person singular again by a figure; and without a figure, Galatians 2:19, &c. Who are Jews by nature — By birth, not proselytes only. And not sinners of the gent... [ Continue Reading ]
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law — Not even of the moral, much less the ceremonial, law. But by the faith of Jesus Christ — That is, by faith in him. The name Jesus was first known by the gentiles; the name Christ by the Jews. And they are not always placed promiscuously;... [ Continue Reading ]
But if while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are still found sinners — If we continue in sin, will it therefore follow, that Christ is the minister or countenancer of sin?... [ Continue Reading ]
By no means. For if I build again — By my sinful practice. The things which I destroyed — By my preaching, I only make myself — Or show myself, not Christ, to be a transgressor; the whole blame lies on me, not him or his gospel. As if he had said, The objection were just, if the gospel promised just... [ Continue Reading ]
For I through the law — Applied by the Spirit to my heart, and deeply convincing me of my utter sinfulness and helplessness. Am dead to the law — To all hope of justification from it. That I may live to God — Not continue in sin. For this very end am I, in this sense, freed from the law, that I may... [ Continue Reading ]
The Apostle goes on to describe how he is freed from sin; how far he is from continuing therein. I am crucified with Christ — Made conformable to his death; "the body of sin is destroyed." Romans 6:6. And I — As to my corrupt nature. Live no longer — Being dead to sin. But Christ liveth in me — Is a... [ Continue Reading ]
Meantime I do not make void — In seeking to be justified by my own works. The grace of God — The free love of God in Christ Jesus. But they do, who seek justification by the law. For if righteousness is by the law — If men might be justified by their obedience to the law, moral or ceremonial. Then C... [ Continue Reading ]