GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:1 AFTER FOURTEEN YEARS. Could refer to an _additional_ 14 years after the three years mentioned in Galatians 1:18. The 14 years could also start from Paul’s conversion and include those three. The latter seems slightly more probable, placing this visit around A.D. 47. I... [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:2 THOSE WHO SEEMED INFLUENTIAL probably includes James, Peter, and John (see v. Galatians 2:9). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:3 The Jerusalem apostles agreed that Titus, a Gentile, did not need to be circumcised. Thus, says Paul, they agreed no Gentile needed to be circumcised. But some FALSE BROTHERS continued to disagree. (On circumcision, see Acts 15:1; Romans 2:25; Romans 4:9; Galatians 5:... [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:7 As an apostle, Paul was not inferior to Peter: Paul was assigned to evangelize THE UNCIRCUMCISED (Gentiles), while Peter was sent to THE CIRCUMCISED (Jews). Therefore the Galatians should not consider themselves inferior to any other believers. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = doc... [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:9 PILLARS. Peter, James, and John were clearly leaders in the early church. Significantly, they gave THE RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP to Barnabas and Paul. This showed that they approved of the gospel Paul preached and of his ministry to the Gentiles. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = do... [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:10 THE POOR. This probably refers mainly to poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Paul led an effort to help them financially (see Romans 15:25; 1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 8:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:11 Paul was not a people-pleaser (Galatians 1:10). His confrontation with Peter proves this. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:12 Although it was allowed by Scripture, EATING WITH THE GENTILES would have broken Jewish dietary traditions. THE CIRCUMCISION PARTY required keeping the Mosaic covenant law regarding circumcision, food, and special days. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagNa... [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:14 FORCE THE GENTILES TO LIVE LIKE JEWS. Peter was guilty of hypocrisy (v. Galatians 2:13). He had not been observing food laws previously. Now he was requiring Gentile Christians to observe Jewish food laws in order to eat with him. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElem... [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:16 “Justified” means “counted righteous” or “declared righteous” by God (see esv footnote). If people obeyed all of God’s perfect moral standards, they could be justified by their own merits. But Paul says that this is impossible for anyone to do (see Romans 1:1). WORKS... [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:18 I would PROVE MYSELF TO BE A TRANSGRESSOR. Ironically, the one who is most clearly seen to be a sinner is not the one outside of the law (the Gentile), but the one who is under the law. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=image... [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:19 THROUGH THE LAW. The law taught Paul that he could not be saved by works. Paul has DIED TO THE LAW. He no longer tries to gain justification by obeying the law. SO THAT I MIGHT LIVE TO GOD. Paul has gained God’s acceptance through justification in Christ. He has an a... [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:20 IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE does not mean that Paul has no personality of his own. It means that he no longer controls his own life. Rather, CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME now directs and empowers all that he does. THE LIFE I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON O... [ Continue Reading ]
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 2:21 Christ’s death would have been pointless IF RIGHTEOUSNESS WERE THROUGH THE LAW. Then people could earn justification by their obedience. But they can never do this. Sin is so serious that only the substitutionary, atoning death of God’s Son can deal with the problem.... [ Continue Reading ]