"THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"
Chapter Two
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To understand why Paul would refuse to circumcise Titus (but then
had Timothy circumcised later, as recorded in Acts 16:1-3)
2) To appreciate why it was necessary for Paul to rebuke Peter to his
face
3) To understand why if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ's
death was in vain
SUMMARY
As Paul continues defending his apostleship, he describes a meeting in
Jerusalem fourteen years after the one with Peter related in chapter
one. It was prompted by a revelation, and Barnabas and Titus went with
him to meet "those who were of reputation". The meeting was private,
but some false brethren were secretly brought in who sought to demand
that Titus, a Gentile, be circumcised. Paul refused, viewing it as an
effort to bring them back into bondage from which Christ set them free
(1-5).
The result of the meeting was that "those who seemed to be something"
added nothing to Paul. In fact, once they saw that the gospel of the
uncircumcised had been given to him just as the gospel of the
circumcised had been given to Peter, and once James, Cephas, and John
perceived the grace that had been given to Paul, he was extended the
right hand of fellowship. They only asked that Paul be mindful of the
poor, something he was very eager to do (6-10).
The rest of the chapter describes a confrontation in Antioch between
Peter and Paul. Peter, who was visiting, at first was willing to eat
with the Gentiles; but when some came from James, out of fear he
withdrew himself. Through his influence the rest of the Jews, even
Barnabas, were carried away into hypocrisy. This prompted Paul to
withstand Peter "to his face", and to rebuke him in the presence of
all. In the course of his rebuke, Paul stressed that we are justified
by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, otherwise Christ
died in vain (11-24).
OUTLINE
I. THE MEETING AT JERUSALEM (1-10)
A. IN PRIVATE, WITH THOSE OF REPUTATION (1-5)
1. Occurring fourteen years later, accompanied by Barnabas and
Titus (1)
2. Spurred to go by revelation, he communicated the gospel he had
preached (2)
3. Refused to allow Titus to be circumcised, as some brethren
desired who were secretly brought in to the meeting (3-5)
B. HIS SANCTION BY JAMES, CEPHAS, AND JOHN (6-10)
1. Those who seemed to be something (reputation really made no
difference) did not add anything to Paul (6)
2. When those of reputation saw...
a. That the gospel of the uncircumcised had been committed to
Paul just as the gospel of the circumcised was to Peter
(7-8)
b. That James, Cephas, and John perceived the grace given to
Paul
...they extended the right hand of fellowship to Paul and
Barnabas (9)
3. They asked only that the poor be remembered, something Paul
was very eager to do (10)
II. THE CONFRONTATION AT ANTIOCH (11-21)
A. PETER'S HYPOCRISY (11-13)
1. Paul had to withstand Peter to the face, because he would not
eat with Gentiles when those from James came to Antioch
(11-12)
2. Peter's example of hypocrisy influenced other Jews, even
Barnabas (13)
B. PAUL'S REBUKE (14-21)
1. Peter's hypocrisy (14)
a. He himself, though Jewish, lived as a Gentile
b. Yet he was compelling Gentiles to live as Jews
2. A summary of Paul's rebuke (15-21)
a. Jewish Christians realize that they are justified by faith
in Christ, not by the works of the law by which no flesh
can be justified (15-16)
b. If I seek to be justified by Christ through a means which
cannot justify, isn't that making Christ a minister of sin?
(17)
c. If I rebuild that which cannot justify and has been
destroyed (i.e., the law), won't I become a transgressor
again? (18)
d. Through the law, I have died to the law, having been
crucified with Christ; Christ now lives in me and the life
I now live to God is a life of faith in the Son of God
(19-20)
e. If righteousness comes through the law, Christ died in
vain, and the grace of God has been set aside (21)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- The meeting at Jerusalem (1-10)
- The confrontation at Antioch (11-21)
2) How long was it before Paul returned to Jerusalem? Who went with
him? (1)
- Fourteen years
- Barnabas and Titus
3) What prompted him to go? What did he do there? (2)
- A revelation
- Communicated to those of reputation the gospel he had preached
among the Gentiles
4) What did some who were secretly brought in to this meeting try to
get Paul to do? Did Paul submit to their command? (3-5)
- To have Titus circumcised
- No
5) How do you reconcile Paul's refusal to circumcise Titus with the
fact that Paul later had Timothy circumcised? (cf. Ac 16:1-3)
- Circumcision of a Jewish Christian as a matter of expediency was
permissible; but circumcision imposed upon a Gentile as an element
necessary for salvation was not!
6) When did those who "seemed to be something" add to Paul? (6)
- Nothing
7) What two things prompted them to extend the right hand of fellowship
to Paul and Barnabas? (7-9)
- When they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcised had been
committed to Paul, just as the gospel to the circumcised had been
committed to Peter
- When James, Cephas, and John perceived the grace that had been
given to Paul
8) What was the only thing they asked of Paul? (10)
- To remember the poor
9) When Peter came to Antioch, why did Paul find it necessary to
withstand him to his face? (11-12)
- Because he was willing to eat with Gentiles at first, but when
certain men from James came, he withdrew himself out of fear
10) Who else was carried away by Peter's hypocrisy? (13)
- The rest of the Jews, including Barnabas
11) Briefly describe Paul's main argument as found in verse 16.
- One is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in
Christ
12) How did Paul live his life, once he had died to the law? (19-20)
- Having been crucified with Christ, he lives by faith in the Son of
God who loved Him and gave Himself for him
13) If righteousness can come through the law, what does that say about
the death of Christ? (21)
- It was in vain
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