This Week with the Word

The Uniform Lesson for November 9
Background & Commentary by Sam E. Stone

The church pictured in the New Testament is shown just as it was, “warts and all.” The inspired writers do not purport that everything was smooth, positive, and healthy. Conflict existed. Resolving the one described in today’s text was crucial to the future of the Christian community.

When writing to the churches in the province of Galatia, Paul recounted his own experiences candidly. At first, he had been a faithful defender of the Jewish faith, even persecuting the Christians (Galatians 1:12, 13). His encounter with the risen Christ on the Damascus road changed all that (Acts 9:1-9). Next he summarized his initial meeting with Peter (Galatians 1:18-24) and another trip to Jerusalem 14 years later (2:1-8) as he set the stage for our text.

Serving the Lord/Galatians 2:9, 10

Verse 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. Paul compared these three recognized leaders to strong columns used to support a building (compare 1 Timothy 3:15). Their symbolic handshake confirmed their unity publicly. Some of the Judaizers obviously did not accept the decision. Their continuing influence helped cause the problems Paul addresses in this letter.

Verse 10. All they asked was that we
should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. Paul and Barnabas had done just this previously (Acts 11:29, 30) and again on a later journey as well (24:17).

Confronting Legalism/Galatians 2:11-18

Verse 11. When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Many Bible scholars feel this meeting took place soon after the Jerusalem council (Acts 15). This section of Scripture refutes the Roman Catholic view that Peter was the first pope, with everyone following whatever he said. Paul corrected Peter for going along with the legalistic Judaizers.

Verse 12. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to . . . separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. This sect believed that circumcision was necessary for salvation (see Acts 10:45; 11:2; Romans 4:12). This continued even after the issue was resolved at Jerusalem (Acts 15). It appears Peter was afraid of trouble if he acted in accord with his convictions. The scene is reminiscent of his denial of Jesus on the night of his betrayal.

Verse 13. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. Even Paul’s dear friend and companion Barnabas went along with Peter’s change in practice. Previously he had stood side-by-side with Paul in defending the liberty of the gospel, but here succumbed to pressure brought by the Jerusalem group.

Verse 14. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?” When someone did not walk according to the truth of the gospel, Paul did not hesitate to speak up—even to Peter!

Verses 15, 16. We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners” know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. Here is the heart of his argument. By the works of the law, no one can be justified (see Psalm 143:2). No “privilege of race” can save us. Both Jews and Gentiles can only be saved by God’s grace, accepted through obedient faith in Christ.

Verses 17, 18. If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. We have been accepted by God on the basis of what Jesus did on the cross, not our own perfect keeping of the Old Testament law. A person stands self-condemned if he tries to rebuild the law that already judged him a sinner.

Living for Christ/Galatians 2:19-21

Verses 19, 20. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. The law led us to Christ (Galatians 3:24), so that we then might die to the law, but live to God (Romans 7:1-6). Paul uses the metaphor of crucifixion to explain what happened. Death is both “the release from past obligations” and “the annihilation of old sins” (Lightfoot).

Verse 21. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! Don’t try to mingle legalism with grace! That would make Christ’s death unnecessary. With this firm conclusion, the apostle settles the conflict that threatened to divide the church. |L

Sam E. Stone is the former editor of Christian Standard. He continues his writing and speaking ministry from his home in Cincinnati, Ohio.