Galatians 2

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.

I went up, not of mine own head, but by the appointment and revelation of God: and because there was a seeming difference betwixt the course that I took in my preaching and planting the Gospel, and theirs; they permitting circumcision where they preached, I not permitting it; I was willing to communicate unto them the course which I held among the Gentiles; but not in open hearing, but privately, to those which were in chief account; viz. Peter, James, and John; lest by any means I should have been thought to have gone a wrong way to work in my ministry.

Galatians 2:3

But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

But so ordered I the matter, that not so much as Titus, who was with me in that journey, being a Gentile and a Grecian, was compelled, notwithstanding the importunity of some, to be circumcised:

Galatians 2:4

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in pririly to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that &c.

And that chiefly, because of some false brethren of my nation, the Jews, who were secretly and underhand brought in, and set as spies, to pry into that liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, whereby we do justly hold ourselves freed from these legal ceremonies and observances; and laboured, by their enforcement, to draw us unto that bondage of the Mosaical Law, from which we were delivered by Christ:

Galatians 2:5

To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

To whom we yielded not an inch, nor gave subjection for so much as an hour, but opposed them effectually; that ye might well find, that it was no other than the truth of the Gospel, which we had delivered to you, and that ye might resolve to persist therein.

Galatians 2:6

But of these who seemed to be somewhat, whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person: for &c.

But of these great apostles, who carried much sway in the Church, and seemed persons of eminence, whatsoever they were, all is one to me: God doth not accept of any man’s person; as more regarding him, because he is great, learned, well spoken: even the best of them in conference added nothing to me, nor taught me any thing that I knew not.

Galatians 2:7

But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, &c.

But, contrariwise, when they saw that I was made the Apostle of the Gentiles, as Peter was of the Jews &c. So verse 8.

Galatians 2:11

But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

Thus we went about our great and holy task: but when Peter was come to Antioch, where I was, I withstood him openly and professedly; because indeed he was worthy of blame and opposition.

Galatians 2:12

For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

For, before that certain Jews came thither from James, he did familiarly converse at meals, and upon all other occasions, with the Gentiles; as making no difference betwixt them and Jews: but, when those Jews were come to him from James, he withdrew and separated himself from the Gentiles, as if they had been unclean and unfit to be conversed with; belike fearing the offence of those Jews, which were newly come unto him.

Galatians 2:13

And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also &c.

And the other Jews, which were with him before, following his example, dissembled also with him, and withdrew themselves from the Gentiles; insomuch as Barnabas also, my companion, began to be drawn away with them.

Galatians 2:14

But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

But when I saw that they halted thus, and went not sincerely on, according to the truth of the Gospel (wherein we have learned, that the partition-wall is broken down, and that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile,) I said boldly unto Peter before them all, If thou, being naturally born a Jew, livest in a free fashion, after the manner of the Gentiles, without any regard of the strict observation of the Jewish rites, why dost thou compel those, which are born Gentiles, to live according to the rules of the Jewish strictness? II. 15, 16. We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ. We, who are Jews by nature, and therefore, as it might seem, peculiarly chosen and privileged by God, and not Gentiles, who have been heretofore censured and rejected for impure and unclean persons; Even we, well knowing that a man is not justified by the Works of the Law, but by Faith in Jesus Christ, have believed in Jesus.

Galatians 2:17

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Thus I said to Peter, and that justly and truly, How is it then? if we, leaving our confidence to be justified by the Works of the Law, and seeking to be justified by Christ, be yet found to be sinners; shall we therefore say that Christ came to strip us of that righteousness which we might have hoped for in the Law, and to leave us as sinful and polluted men under the state of sin and death? God forbid, that we should teach such doctrine.

Galatians 2:18

For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

For, as for me, I have always hitherto preached the death and abolition of sin, by the power of Christ’s death; and, if I should now preach the power and prevalence of sin over the soul, notwithstanding that death of Christ, I should build up that which I have formerly destroyed, and make myself justly censurable.

Galatians 2:19

For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

It is not the Justice of Christ, that voids the Law, or disables it from justifying us: no; it is the Law itself, that kills her followers alone: I myself, by the power and rigour of the Law, am a dead man to the Law; insomuch as it condemns me for not keeping it, and puts me out of all hope and confidence in myself or it; that I might seek unto God, for that life of Faith, which is only to be found in and by Christ.

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God.

As my Saviour was crucified, so am I crucified with him; and, by the power of his death, am dead to my sins and corruptions: but, though I be dead, one way, yet I live another: yet I know not whether I may properly say, that I live, or rather that Christ lives in me; for as my soul animates my body, so Christ animates, as it were, my soul, and moves and works in me: and the life, which I now live, is not a carnal, but a spiritual life; not the life of nature, but of grace, wrought in me by the power of Faith in the Son of God.

Galatians 2:21

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Howsoever other men may be joining Christ and the Law together, I, for my part, will not be so injurious to the grace of Christ, as to frustrate it, by adding a partner to it: for, surely, if Righteousness be to be had by the Works of the Law, then Christ is dead in vain.