“Galatians 2:6-10”

Monday, July 09, 2018

“But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) — well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.”

---End of Scripture verses---

Paul was not disparaging Peter, John and James (the Lord’s brother) with his comments in today’s verses, but defending his position and authority as an Apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul said that it made “no difference” to him that they “were of high reputation” and they “were reputed to be pillars”; and he only said this because it obviously made a huge difference to the false teachers in Galatia.

Those “Judaizers” took the fact that Paul had not been a personal companion of Jesus as James and the other Apostles had been, and tried to use it against him. They wanted to make Paul appear to be inferior to the prominent Jerusalem leaders in the eyes of the Galatian brethren. Paul implied that Peter, John and James acknowledged the authenticity of his teaching, and the legitimacy and equality of his apostleship, when they extended “the right hand of fellowship” to him (verse 9).

While there was no difference in their authority and teaching, there WAS recognized a general difference in their sphere’s of operation and influence. Paul preached, mainly but not exclusively, to the Gentiles. Peter’s influence extended, mainly but not exclusively, to the Jewish communities. Some people in the religious world use this and other passages to teach that there was a difference in the substance and a limitation of the outreach of Peter’s and Paul’s gospel. But that would fly right in the face of what the book of Galatians and the Jerusalem conference in Acts 15 clearly teaches us.

There is only one Gospel (Galatians 1:8-9)! Even if an angel from heaven were to teach a different gospel he would be accursed by God and should be rejected by humanity! Both Jews and Gentiles are saved in the exact same ways (Acts 15:9). All people are saved by God’s grace through obedient faith in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:8). That does not preclude the fact that Jewish and Gentile converts come from different backgrounds and need to be approached with the truth from different directions. But the differences were only in techniques and customs and knowledge base.

We must remember that Peter taught the Gospel to the Gentiles assembled in Cornelius’ house (Acts 10:23-48), and Paul’s custom was to preach in the Jewish synagogues before he taught the Gentiles whenever he entered into a new city (Acts 13:14; 14:1; 17:1; 18:4; 19:8). There is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles in the eyes of God, there was none to Peter and Paul, and there should be no difference with us as well. All people are equally important and all need the ONE Gospel of Jesus Christ to save their immortal souls!

Please read Galatians 2:11-14 for tomorrow.

Have a blessed day!

-Louie Taylor

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