Aug 22: Galatians 2

The Council at Jerusalem

2 Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. ^{2 [a]}It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that somehow I might be running, or had run, in vain. ³ But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. ⁴ Yet it was a concern because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy on our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. ⁵ But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. ⁶ But from those who ^[b]were of considerable repute (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism)—well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me. ⁷ But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel ^[c]to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been ^[d]to the circumcised ⁸ (for He who was at work for Peter in his apostleship ^[e]to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles), ⁹ and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, ^[f]James and ^[g]Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right ^[h]hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.

Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

¹¹ But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he ^[i]stood condemned. ¹² For prior to the coming of some men from ^[j]James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and separate himself, fearing those from the circumcision. ¹³ The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not ^[k]straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?^[l]

¹⁵ “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from the Gentiles; ¹⁶ nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of ^[m]the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of ^[n]the Law; since by works of ^[o]the Law no ^[p]flesh will be justified. ¹⁷ But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? ^[q]Far from it! ¹⁸ For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a wrongdoer. ¹⁹ For through ^[r]the Law I died to ^[s]the Law, so that I might live for God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and ^[t]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through ^[u]the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”