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Galatians 2

World English Bible

WEB

1Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. 2I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 3But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage, 5to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you. 6But from those who were reputed to be important—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me, 7but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcised, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcised— 8for he who worked through Peter in the apostleship with the circumcised also worked through me with the Gentiles— 9and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, those who were reputed to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision. 10They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was also zealous to do. 11But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do? 15“We, being Jews by nature and not Gentile sinners, 16yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law. 17But if while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker. 19For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. 20I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me. 21I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Galatians Chapter 2 continues the Apostle Paul's defense of the gospel he preaches, emphasizing its divine origin and the importance of grace over the law. Paul recounts a significant event where he went to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles, including #Peter and #James, to discuss the gospel he was preaching among the Gentiles. This meeting was crucial as it affirmed that the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ was not just for the Jews but for all people. Paul highlights that the apostles recognized the grace given to him and did not require him to adopt Jewish customs, thus reinforcing the principle that salvation is by faith alone, not by works of the law (Galatians 2:9-10).
The chapter also addresses a confrontation between Paul and Peter. When Peter initially ate with the Gentiles, he later withdrew from them out of fear of criticism from the circumcision group. Paul publicly rebukes Peter for his hypocrisy, reminding him that justification comes through faith in Christ, not by observing the law (Galatians 2:11-14). This incident illustrates the ongoing struggle within the early church regarding the inclusion of Gentiles and the nature of the gospel. Paul concludes by affirming that he has been crucified with Christ and now lives by faith in the Son of God, emphasizing that righteousness comes through faith and not by the law (Galatians 2:20-21). This chapter powerfully underscores the core message of the Christian faith: that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, which is a central theme throughout the New Testament.

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Referenced by

  1. Acts 15:1v11Acts 15:1 discusses the controversy over circumcision for Gentile believers, which is also addressed in Galatians 2:11-14 where Paul confronts Peter over similar issues of Jewish customs and Gentile believers.
  2. Romans 3:20v16Romans 3:20 explains that by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified, which is reinforced in Galatians 2:16, where it is stated that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.
  3. Romans 6:6v20Romans 6:6 speaks of the old self being crucified with Christ, which is echoed in Galatians 2:20 where Paul states he has been crucified with Christ and now lives by faith in the Son of God.
  4. Romans 7:4v19Romans 7:4 speaks of dying to the law through the body of Christ to bear fruit for God, which parallels Galatians 2:19-20 where Paul describes being crucified with Christ and living by faith in Him.
  5. Philippians 1:21v20Philippians 1:21 states, 'For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,' which resonates with Galatians 2:20, where Paul speaks of being crucified with Christ and living by faith in Him.
  6. Colossians 1:27v20Colossians 1:27 reveals the mystery of Christ in you, the hope of glory, which resonates with Galatians 2:20 where Paul speaks of Christ living in him, emphasizing the transformative presence of Christ in believers.

Topics in this chapter

Related chapters

  • Acts 15AntiochBarnabasJerusalem Church
  • Romans 3Faith in ChristLaw and GraceJustification by Faith
  • Romans 6DikaiosyneLife in ChristUnion with Christ
  • Acts 11AntiochBarnabasGentile Inclusion
  • Ephesians 2Faith AlonePistis (Faith)Reformation
  • Acts 13Pauline MinistryAntiochBarnabas
  • Acts 10ConsistencyGentile InclusionAcceptance
  • Galatians 5Christ AloneLegalismJustification by Faith
  • Philippians 3Union with ChristJustificationIdentity in Christ
  • 1 Timothy 1NomosLaw and GraceLegalism
  • Galatians 3NomosLegalismJustification by Faith
  • Galatians 1Christ AloneJustification by FaithApostolic Authority

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