Galatians 2:1-10 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Galatians 2:1-10. Let’s go!
Galatians 2:1-2 (NIV)
1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.
On verses 1-2: Paul’s goal is to show the Christians in Galatia that they are heading in the wrong direction by thinking that they need to be circumcised in order to be saved. To help them see the error of their ways, Paul uses an interesting and commendable approach: he shares a story. In fact, it’s his own story, the story of how years before he went through a similar struggle. Paul shares about a time when he also wondered whether he was preaching the right thing by telling Gentile Christians that they didn’t need to be circumcised in accordance with the law of Moses. So Paul goes to Jerusalem, along with his ministry teammates Barnabas and Titus, to ask for advice from leaders in Jerusalem.
What can we learn from this?
1. All of us go through times of self-doubt, when we wonder if we’re heading in the right direction. In such times, it helps to seek good advice.
2. When you’re trying to encourage and challenge someone, it helps for you to share a story when you found yourself in a similar struggle.
Galatians 2:3-5 (NIV)
3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
4 [This matter arose] because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.
5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
On verses 3-5: One of the big themes of Paul’s letter to the Galatians is that it matters who you listen to. Paul and his team were disturbed by some “false brothers” who tried to spread a false teaching among the Christians Paul was ministering to (v4). But they refused to give into them (v5), such that not even Titus, who was a Gentile teammate of Paul’s, saw any need in him being circumcised. Likewise, we must not give in for a moment to those whose agenda is to steer us away from the gospel of God’s grace expressed through Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:6-10 (NIV)
6 As for those who seemed to be important–whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance–those men added nothing to my message.
7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews.
8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.
9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.
10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
On verses 6-10: The leaders of the church in Jerusalem, like James, Peter, and John, did a number of things for Paul when he consulted them:
1. They reassured Paul that what he was preaching about Gentile Christians not needing to be circumcised was correct (v6);
2. They reaffirmed Paul’s calling to reach the Gentiles while they focused on the Jews (v9c);
3. They reached out their hand of friendship to Paul (v9a)
4. They recognized God’s grace at work in Paul’s life (v9b);
5. They reinforced Paul’s passion to help the poor (v10);
What can we learn from this? When you’re not sure if you’re heading in the right direction, pray and ask God, and also consult respected leaders in the field.
Are you someone who seeks expert advice? Or are you always trying to figure things out on your own? Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”
What is an area of your life where you could use some expert advice?
Father, when I’m really not sure, may I not try to figure things out all by myself, but may I be humble enough to take the time to ask for expert advice. And may I also be discerning when it comes to whom I consult. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
