Galatians 2:2

Galatians 2:2

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:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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by revelation—not from being absolutely dependent on the apostles at Jerusalem, but by independent divine "revelation." Quite consistent with his at the same time, being a deputy from the Church of Antioch, as Acts 15:2 states. He by this revelation was led to suggest the sending of the deputation. Compare the case of Peter being led by vision, and at the same time by Cornelius' messengers, to go to Cæsarea, Acts 10:1-22.

I . . . communicated unto them—namely, "to the apostles and elders" (Acts 15:2): to the apostles in particular (Galatians 2:9).

privately—that he and the apostles at Jerusalem might decide previously on the principles to be adopted and set forward before the public council (Acts 15:1-29). It was necessary that the Jerusalem apostles should know beforehand that the Gospel Paul preached to the Gentiles was the same as theirs, and had received divine confirmation in the results it wrought on the Gentile converts. He and Barnabas related to the multitude, not the nature of the doctrine they preached (as Paul did privately to the apostles), but only the miracles vouchsafed in proof of God's sanctioning their preaching to the Gentiles (Acts 15:12).

to them . . . of reputation—James, Cephas, and John, and probably some of the "elders"; Galatians 2:6, "those who seemed to be somewhat."

lest, etc.—"lest I should be running, or have run, in vain"; that is, that they might see that I am not running, and have not run, in vain. Paul does not himself fear lest he be running, or had run, in vain; but lest he should, if he gave them no explanation, seem so to them. His race was the swift-running proclamation of the Gospel to the Gentiles (compare "run," Margin, for "Word . . . have free course," II Thessalonians 3:1). His running would have been in vain, had circumcision been necessary, since he did not require it of his converts.

**Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Galatians 2:2:**

Acts 15:4
2 Corinthians 6:1
Galatians 2:9

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