GALATIANS LESSON 3


     We will begin this lesson in Galatians 2:1 "Then fourteen years
after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with
[me] also."

     It really does not matter whether this 14 years is from the time
of Paul's conversion to Christianity, or that it is from the time he
met with Peter. I believe, in the first chapter, Paul was showing that
his training was not of man, but God. In this chapter, however, we
will see that Paul has ministered with the approval of the apostles
who were part of the twelve. This does not even mean that this is the
second visit that Paul has made. It more probably means another time,
not the second time. We know that Paul had been involved in ministry
for many years at this point. We will find in Paul's journeys that
several ministers travelled with him. He really had a large following
everywhere he went. The reason he mentions the 14 years here, is
possibly to show the success of his ministry. He was so believed, that
men and women followed along with his group and helped him minister.

     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."

     It appears from this, that Paul had preached what the Spirit had
taught him, and now he was coming to see Peter, James, and the others
in authority to tell them what he had preached. The message, that Paul
gave here, was not for everyone, but for those in authority, for their
approval. Paul had been ministering this message for over 11 years. He
now wanted the others to approve his ministry. The fact that he "went
up by revelation", means that God sent him. He had never questioned
the message before, but since he was sent by the Spirit, he felt he
now needed Peter and James' approval.

     Galatians 2:3 "But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek,
was compelled to be circumcised:"

     The doctrine of circumcision and of sacrificing has sprung up in
the church. The Judaizers have insisted that the Christians go back to
keeping the Jewish law. These people had forced Titus to be
circumcised before they would accept him, because he was a Greek. My
own personal opinion is, this is the very reason that God allowed the
temple to be destroyed. In fact, about 20 or so years after this very
happening is when the temple was destroyed. Either Jesus did it all on
the cross for us, or we worship Him in vain. Jesus was the perfect
sacrifice for all time for everyone. To sacrifice after this would be
to say that Jesus was not the perfect Lamb of God. Paul wants to get
this question settled.

     Galatians 2:4 "And that because of false brethren unawares
brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have
in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:"
     Notice, in this verse, that Paul says these people were
pretending to be believers in Christ. They were really troublemakers
to try to break up the Christian movement. Many Jews were converted to
Christianity, so it was hard to determine sometimes who was really
converted, and who was there to try to put them back under the law.

     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."

     Since Paul had founded these churches with belief in Christ, he
felt responsible to keep them in the faith. He would not even give
these false brethren any time to bring their law to the people. He did
not want his people confused by allowing them to hear false messages.
Colossians 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and
vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the
world, and not after Christ." Colossians 2:4 "And this I say, lest any
man should beguile you with enticing words."

     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 they who seemed [to be somewhat] in conference
added nothing to me:"

     These troublemakers, that had come into the church, had intended
to put them back under the law. These brand new Christians were
impressed with the authority with which they had spoken, even if they
were not bringing the good news of the gospel. They were tender
believers and must be carefully guarded from false teachings. Paul
says, it really does not matter that they are supposed to be someone
special. Probably they were Pharisees, who thought they were better
than other men. God is no respecter of persons. All of their education
meant nothing to God. Paul had been taught of God. God's teaching was
much above the teaching of man.

     Galatians 2:7 "But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of
the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as [the gospel] of the
circumcision [was] unto Peter;"

     We know that Paul had been sent to the Gentiles. It was the Jew
who practiced circumcision. Acts 13:47 "For so hath the Lord commanded
us, [saying], I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou
shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth."  The Jews had
thought themselves to be the only family that God wanted. They thought
themselves to be better than others. Paul had been specifically sent
to the Gentiles. It was Peter, however, who had been present when the
Holy Ghost descended on the uncircumcised Gentiles. Acts 10:45 "And
they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as
came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the
gift of the Holy Ghost." God had shown Peter that the Gentiles were
acceptable to God, even though they had never been circumcised. We see
a direct statement in the next Scripture about Paul being called to
the Gentiles. Romans 15:16 "That I should be the minister of Jesus
Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the
offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by
the Holy Ghost."

     Galatians 2:8 "(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the
apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the
Gentiles:)"

     I see in this, that Paul is recognizing the ministry of Peter. He
is just explaining that his call and Peter's call of God is to two
different people. This does not mean that Paul never spoke to the
Jewish converts, nor does it mean that Peter never spoke to the
Gentiles. It does mean, that the main focus of their ministry was Paul
to the Gentiles and Peter to the Jews. Let us look at the commission
Jesus gave to Paul in the following verses. Acts 26:17 "Delivering
thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles, unto whom now I send
thee," Acts 26:18 "To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from
darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they
may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are
sanctified by faith that is in me."

     Galatians 2:9 "And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be
pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me
and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we [should go] unto
the heathen, and they unto the circumcision."

     Now, we see three of the real pillars of the church approving the
ministry of Paul. The right hand signifies the spiritual blessing. Of
course, Cephas, in the verse above, is the same as Peter. Peter, James
{the half-brother of Jesus}, and John blessed Paul and Barnabus in
their endeavor to reach the Gentile world for Christ. Peter actually
was over all of the churches, whether they were made up of Jew or
Gentile. His preaching, however, was focused on the Jew. James was
head of the church at Jerusalem. John is the same as John the
Revelator.

     Galatians 2:10 "Only [they would] that we should remember the
poor; the same which I also was forward to do."

     Even though their ministries were to a different people, they
were all to remember the poor. Paul did not need instruction in this,
he had been doing that very thing from the very beginning. It seems
the believers in Jerusalem had been poverty stricken, and Paul had
brought the message of charity to the Gentile churches. He explains to
them in the following verses that they are to help their converted
Jewish brothers. Romans 15:25 "But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister
unto the saints." Romans 15:26 "For it hath pleased them of Macedonia
and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which
are at Jerusalem." Romans 15:27 "It hath pleased them verily; and
their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers
of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in
carnal things."  The church in Jerusalem was made up of mainly Jews
who had converted to Christianity.

     In the next lesson, we will see a little controversy arise
between Peter and Paul.
                        Galatians 3 Questions

1.  How many years had passed before Paul took Barnabus and Titus with
    him to Jerusalem?
2.  How does this chapter differ from chapter 1?
3.  Why do you suppose that Paul mentioned the 14 years?
4.  Paul went up by ___________?
5.  What is meant by this statement?
6.  Who did Paul bring this message to?
7.  Why did Paul feel that he needed Peter and James' approval at this
    time?
8.  What had they compelled Titus to do?
9.  What two things, that the Jews had brought, has sprung up in the
    church?
10. What had the Judaizers insisted upon?
11. Why does the author believe God allowed the temple to be
    destroyed?
12. What does the statement "went up by revelation" show us?
13. To sacrifice after the resurrection of Jesus was saying what?
14. Why had the false brethren come in?
15. Why was it difficult to know those who had come to make trouble?
16. Why did Paul feel responsible for the Christians?
17. What does Colossians chapter 2 verse 8 warn them to beware of?
18. Quote Galatians chapter 2 verse 6.
19. What was the difference in Peter's ministry and Paul's?
20. Quote Acts chapter 13 verse 47.
21. Quote Romans chapter 15 verse 16.
22. Where do we find the commission Jesus gave to Paul?
23. Who gave Paul and Barnabus the right hand of fellowship?
24. What does the right hand signify?
25. Who was this James?
26. Why were the Gentile believers to remember the poor Jews?