Galatians 2:3

Defending the Gospel

1 Then after fourteen years ^aI went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me.

2 And I went up¹ by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but ^aprivately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means ^bI might run, or had run, in vain.

3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

4 And this occurred because of ^afalse brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our ^bliberty which we have in Christ Jesus, ^cthat they might bring us into bondage),

5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that ^athe truth of the gospel might continue with you.

6 But from those ^awho seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; ^bGod shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something ^cadded nothing to me.

7 But on the contrary, ^awhen they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised ^bhad been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter

8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the ^acircumcised ^balso ^cworked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),

Commentaries:

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What Does Galatians 2:3 Mean?

Galatians 2:3

The account of Acts 15 shows that it is not necessary for salvation for Christians to be physically circumcised. Salvation is by grace through faith, and faith without works is dead. We cannot "work" or "earn" our way into the Kingdom of God. The privilege to be a part of the eternal Kingdom is one that God bestows according to His will. Nothing we can do will make God indebted to us or require Him to do something for us, such as grant us admission into His Kingdom.

But at the same time, if we are within the salvation process, we must show forth works, or fruits, that demonstrate our repentance, our attitude, and our desire to live by the rules of His Kingdom. We must live now in the same way that we will be living for eternity—by the laws of God's Kingdom. Our works do not save us; they demonstrate that we are being saved.

Under the Old Covenant, the ceremonies and ordinances were primarily physical, and the spiritual aspects were implied. Under the New Covenant, the ceremonies and ordinances are primarily spiritual, and the physical aspects are implied. For example, the Old Testament requires a sacrifice in the morning and in the evening of each day. Under the New Covenant, the physical rite is not required, yet the basic law is still there, and is thus manifested in morning and evening prayer, a sacrifice of our time and energy. There is no record of Christ ever bringing a sacrifice for the priests to offer; rather, His entire life was a sacrifice.

In the same regard, the council of Acts 15 shows that circumcision is not one of the works that is required to demonstrate the salvation/sanctification process. When considering eternity and the spiritual bodies that we will have at that time, circumcision is almost insignificant. What is truly important is whether or not the heart has been circumcised. The physical rite was a reminder to the children of Israel that they were separate and distinct, but even in this God was looking for a change of heart so much more so than a modification of the flesh.

David C. Grabbe

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Defending the Gospel

What Does Galatians 2:3 Mean?

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning