Galatians 2

(1)  Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
(2)  And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
(3)  But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
(4)  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
(5)  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
(6)  But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
(7)  But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
(8)  (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
(9)  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
(10)  Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
(11)  But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
(12)  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
(13)  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
(14)  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
(15)  We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
(16)  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
(17)  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
(18)  For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
(19)  For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
(20)  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
(21)  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

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Study Questions

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1. Was this visit to Jerusalem the “famine” trip of Acts 11:30 or the so-called “council” meeting of Acts chapter 15? Verse 1.

2. What was the purpose of Paul’s trip to Jerusalem? Verse 2.

3. Some have said that Titus was a “representative test case”? What would the “test case” have been about? Verse 3.

4. Who were the “false brethren” and what was the “bondage” they were seeking? Verse 4.

5. What was it that Paul refused to give “place by subjection”? Verse 5.

6. Was Paul dependent upon the men of reputation for his knowledge of the truth? Why does he so carefully detail his visits to Jerusalem in chapters 1 and 2? Verse 6.

7. What additional truth did Paul learn from his meeting with the acknowledged leaders of the church? Verse 6.

8. What was the difference of “the gospel of the un-circumcision” and “the gospel of the circumcision”? Verse 7.

9. What did God do to counteract the understanding in the early church that all God’s promises were for Jews alone and no Gentile could be admitted to these privileges? Do you think the early disciples would have ever understood the universal nature of Christianity if Paul had not been in the picture? Verse 8.

10. Who was the James mentioned here? What agreement was reached between Paul and James, Peter, and John? Verse 9.

11. What request did the leaders at Jerusalem make of Paul? What evidence do we have that he did it? Verse 10.

12. What does this incident illustrate about the idea that Peter was the first pope and that the pope is infallible in matters of doctrine? Verse 11.

13. What was the mistake Peter made? If this happened previous to the “council” in Jerusalem, why should the experience of Peter in Acts 10 earlier have caused him to know better? Verse 12.

14. What is dissimulation? What was the specific thing Peter and the others did that Paul condemned as “dissimulation”? Verse 13.

15. Did Paul do right in rebuking Peter publicly? Did he fail to respect Peter as an inspired apostle or was he correcting a wrong as an inspired apostle in his own right? Verse 14.

16. How were they Jews by nature? How did Paul describe the Gentiles while speaking as a Jew to Jews? Verse 15.

17. Does “the faith of Christ” refer to the gospel or to believing in Christ? (This is an important question. Remember Paul is stating the grounds of justification. Is our personal faith the grounds of justification?) What did “even” those who were Jews by nature have to do? Verse 16.

18. The phrase “the works of the law” lacks the article “the” in the original text so the meaning could be any law, but the context leads us to understand the Law of Moses. Men are not justified by what, but by what? Verse 16.

19. Could this refer to the conduct of Peter? Thus: Peter was specifically instructed to go to a Gentile’s home (Acts 10:20). He defended his conduct on the basis that the Lord told him to do it (Acts 11:1-18). If eating was Gentiles was sinful, then Christ, who directed Peter to do it, was a “minister of sin.” What was Peter’s reaction to such an absurd conclusion? Verse 17.

20. What did Paul destroy? On what basis would he become a transgressor for that? Verse 18.

21. How was Paul “dead to the law”? Verse 19.

22. What is the paradox in this verse? Verse 20.

23. How would someone frustrate (nullify or set aside) the grace of God? Verse 21.

24. If man could become righteous or justified by the Law, what does that say about the death of Christ? If sinners can be saved without ever having obeyed the gospel of Christ, what does that say about the death of Christ? Verse 21.