Book of Galatians Chapter 2 Part 1 Judaizers Rejected By Jerusalem Council

The Jerusalem council ruling used to correct error in Galatian churches.

Galatians 2:1  Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.  

Paul is connecting something that happened years after his conversion to Christ that involved Judaizers.

Thus, this is very relevant because of why he is writing to the churches in Galatia. Those churches were also plagued by Judaizers.

Paul is referring to an event about seventeen years after his conversion to Christ. 

He traveled to Jerusalem from Antioch with Barnabas and Titus over the issue of whether circumcision was necessary for salvation. 

Judaizers came to Antioch to force circumcision and law keeping.

Acts 15:1-2  And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2)  When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 

As the Jerusalem church was persecuted and impoverished, the Gentile city of Antioch became a hub of missionary activity.

In between his missionary trips, Paul, Barnabas and others preached and taught in the church at Antioch.

Judaizers came to Antioch from Jerusalem teaching that if Christians were not circumcised they could not be saved.

Paul and Barnabas vigorously pushed back against the Judaizers. 

This false teaching stirred up controversy so the church leaders sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to obtain clarification from the apostles there.

All apostles and elders at Jerusalem convened to resolve this matter.

Acts 15:4-6  And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5)  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6)  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 

Paul and Barnabas updated the elders and apostles at Jerusalem about what God did with their ministry to the Gentiles.

The Judaizers were Pharisees and they immediately disputed saying Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the law.

Therefore all of the apostles and elders took this question under review.

Peter stood and reminded them that God showed many Gentiles would be saved when he preached the gospel to Cornelius (See Acts 10).

Peter declared that they were saved by grace and were not to be put under the yoke of the law (See Acts 15:7-11).

Acts 15:19-20  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20)  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 

James also spoke and declared that Gentiles must avoid idolatry, avoid sexual sin and avoid eating food that is bloody.

Things strangled refers to those who killed an animal by strangulation in order to keep the blood in its body. 

Food served with blood was a delicacy among some pagan cults.

Ruling of the council guided by God's Spirit was to govern each church.

Acts 15:22-29  Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23)  And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24)  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25)  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26)  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27)  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28)  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29)  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 

The elders and apostles at Jerusalem made it clear that they never authorized Judaizers to go to Antioch teaching false doctrine.

They sent Paul, Barnabas,Titus, Silas and Judas to bring this letter from the Jerusalem council to the church at Antioch.

Notice, that the Holy Ghost was guiding the apostles in their response to the controversial question of circumcision of Gentiles.

Paul met privately with Peter, James and John to communicate the gospel.

Galatians 2:2  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. 

We now have the context of why Paul is writing to the churches in Galatia. They were also being led astray by Judaizers.

God gave Paul revelation of His will that the apostle should go to Jerusalem to resolve this issue.

In addition, Paul met with the apostles and elders privately to communicate the gospel that he preached to the Gentiles. 

Specifically, he met with Peter, James and John.

The gospel Paul preached declared the free and full remission of sin by the blood of Christ, justification by His righteousness without the works of the law, and freedom from all the rituals of the Mosaic law.

False teachers insinuated that Paul's doctrine was different from that of the apostles in Jerusalem. 

They sought to pervert the Gospel Paul preached, and overthrow the faith of those that heard him. 

Their vile actions made Paul's past gospel ministry seem in vain, and had potential for a negative impact upon his ministry.

Paul was able to communicate the gospel of Christ to the apostles so that they could see he was preaching the same gospel that called for repentant faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Gentiles at Antioch who accompanied Paul were not circumcised.

Galatians 2:3-5  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. 

Paul reminded the Galatians that Titus was a Gentile and he was not compelled to be circumcised after his conversion to Christ.

Those Judaizers who came to Antioch were false brethren. They professed faith in Christ in order to stealthily infiltrate the church at Antioch.

They wanted to learn about Christian liberty so that they could better oppose the gospel of Christ.

Their intent was to force Christians at Antioch to be circumcised and to keep the law.

The apostle made it clear to the Galatians that he did not yield to such false teaching for a single moment. 

Rather he mounted a strong, Biblical rejection of the Judaizers falsehoods. Paul did this so that churches like those in Galatia could continue in the truth of the gospel.

The apostles and elders acknowledged Paul's ministry to the Gentiles.

Galatians 2:7-9  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. 

Paul refers to the Jerusalem council. Peter, James, John and the other apostles confirmed the truth of the gospel and that Paul was God's apostle to the Gentiles.

Acts 15:25-27  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26)  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27)  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 

In fact, the letter they sent to Antioch called Paul and Barnabas beloved brothers in Christ who put their lives on the line to preach the gospel and plant churches.

Galatians 2:6-10  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. 

Paul summarized his visit to Jerusalem. Peter, James and John had nothing to add to the gospel of Christ that Paul preached. 

They were in full alignment with regard to the content of the gospel.

When they understood the full blessing of God upon Paul's ministry, that was equal to the blessings poured out at Pentecost, they rightly determined that this was all of God.

The Jerusalem apostles heartily embraced Paul's gospel and doctrine and ministry. 

They asked him to remember the poor saints at Jerusalem, which Paul already had a burden for in his heart.

There are times when we must take a strong stand against spiritual error.

We must take our stand upon what God actually says in His Word, not what we want it to say, or what we think it says.

We must be like Paul and use clear, plain language to communicate the truth of the gospel of Christ. 

We must not yield to any error.

Bob