College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Galatians 2:6-10
TEXT 2:6-10
(6) But from those who were reputed to be somewhat (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man's person)they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to me: (7) but contrariwise, when they saw that I had been intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the gospel of the circumcision (8) (for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles): (9) and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision; (10) only they would that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.
PARAPHRASE 2:6-10
6 Besides, from the greatest of the apostles I received nothing: Whatever they were during their attendance on Christ, is no lessening of me, as an apostle. God does not shew favour to men on account of external advantages. He did not raise them who attended Christ during his ministry, above me. For to me, they who were of greatest reputation communicated neither knowledge, nor spiritual gifts, nor authority: Far less did they pretend to make me an apostle.
7 But, on the contrary, perceiving by what Jesus said when he appeared to me, that the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles was committed to me, even as the preaching of the gospel to the Jews had been committed to Peter;
8 For God, who wrought inwardly in Peter the gifts of inspiration, and miracles, and languages, to fit him for preaching to the Jews, wrought inwardly also in me the same gifts, in order to fit me for converting and instructing the Gentiles in every country whither I was to go.
9 And thus knowing the grace of apostleship which was bestowed on to me, James, and Peter, and John, who were esteemed chief supporters of the church, gave to me and Barnabas their right hands, in token of my fellowship with them in the apostolic office, and in token that Barnabas was sent forth by the Holy Ghost, to preach the gospel to the Gentiles; and agreed that we should travel among the Gentiles, while they preached to the Jews in Judea.
10 The only thing they desired was, that we would remember to make collectings for the poor, among the Gentiles; which very thing I also made haste to do among the converted Gentiles in Antioch.
COMMENT 2:6
But from those who were reputed to be somewhat
1.
The first ones chosen to be apostles would naturally carry much prestige.
2.
No primacy of Peter is indicated here, although he must be referred to, as seen in verse eight.
whatsoever they were maketh no matter
1.
They could not rest upon their early calling.
2.
Their prestige was not to be the deciding factor.
3.
Truth, and not person of men, was to be the issue.
they imparted nothing to me
1.
Paul was not egotistical; he was simply stating that he had a revelation of the gospel, so how could men teach him?
2.
He was blessed by their fellowship but the meeting was not to give Paul a message.
WORD STUDY 2:6
Accepteth not man's person is literally does not take the face. In the court system of that day, judges often based their verdicts on who the defendant was. The penalty for a slave would be drastically different from the penalty for a master. Likewise, the stranger or alien could not expect the same leniency the judge's friend would receive. Ideal justice, like the blindfolded statue holding the impartial scales, treats all men on the same basis. As the perfect example of this ideal, God does not take a person's face.
COMMENT 2:7
I had been intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the gospel of the circumcision
1.
Are there two gospels? No.
2.
Paul explains in verse eight what is meant: there is only one message.
3.
It meant to whom the gospel was to be preached.
COMMENT 2:8
wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of circumcision
1.
The gospel was to be preached first to the Jew, Romans 1:16
2.
The apostles agreed on areas of service and Paul was to go to Gentiles. Galatians 2:9
3.
It seems the words gospel and apostleship can be used interchangeably in verses seven and eight.
wrought for me also unto the Gentiles
1.
It is also translated was mighty in me for the Gentiles.
2.
Cf. Acts 9:15 But the Lord said. -He is a chosen vessel.-'
COMMENT 2:9
they perceive the grace that was given unto me
1.
They could see:
a.
The evidence of his salvationthe Holy Spirit.
b.
The evidence of his own working of miracles.
c.
The evidence of his own power in preaching.
2.
Several verses using this same expression to show reference to Paul's apostleship. Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:10; Romans 12:3; Romans 15:5
James, Cephas and John
1.
This James is believed to be the half-brother of Christ.
2.
Notice that James is named first. There is no papal primacy here, or Peter's name would appear first.
reputed to be pillars
1.
Pillars are supports for the main building.
2.
The strength of a local church is its local leadership as it stands upon Christ, the bedrock.
a.
Weak elders mean a sagging church.
b.
The church is the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15
c.
No nation is stronger than the church within it.
gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship
1.
This is an open gesture of common acceptance.
2.
Strike hands is seen in the O.T.
a.
Cf. Job 17:3 ... who is there that will strike hands with me.
b.
Cf. Proverbs 6:1 My son, if thou are become surety for thy neighbor, if thou hast stricken thy hands, for a stranger.
that we should go unto the Gentiles and they unto the circumcision
1.
This is the first comity agreement of the church.
2.
The Gentiles have no special requirements given in this agreement.
3.
This was to make certain a wide preaching of the Gospel.
a.
This agreement was not among denominations to give all men a chance to hear the Gospel.
b.
The gospel allows no favoritism.
WORD STUDY 2:9
The Greek word for fellowship (koinoniacoin oh NEE ah) was a favorite expression for the most intimate of human relationships, marriage. It was called the fellowship of life. The close association, or partnership, of this word signifies a sharing and participation in each other's life.
The right hand of fellowship in this verse not only approved Paul and Barnabas as fellow Christians, but also as fellow teachers and leaders. It was a formal recognition of the share they had in each other's ministries, and amounted to an endorsement.
COMMENT 2:10
only they would that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.
1.
The poor probably referred to the Christians within the province of James, Peter, and John.
2.
Paul's zeal to do this is evident both before and after the conference.
a.
On his very first trip to Jerusalem, he took relief for the Judean brethren.
b.
Cf. also 1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 2 Corinthians 9:1-8; Romans 15:25-27; Acts 24:17.
STUDY QUESTIONS 2:6-10
162.
Could the reputed ones refer to the primacy of Peter taught by some?
163.
Was prestige more important to Paul than truth?
164.
Did Paul receive any new truth from the reputed ones?
165.
Does Paul teach that there are two gospels?
166.
Did his preaching differ from Peter'S?
167.
Were Paul and Peter commissioned by the same authority?
168.
Could the word gospel and apostleship refer to the same commission?
169.
Could the gospels mentioned refer to areas of service rather than to content?
170.
How did Paul decide that he was to go to the Gentiles?
171.
Who perceived Paul's grace?
172.
How was this grace manifested?
173.
Who were the pillars?
174.
How did the pillars react?
175.
Did they agree on areas of work?
176.
Is this comparable to comity agreements?
177.
Who was the James named here?
178.
If the men are named in order of importance, what does this do to the doctrine of the primacy of Peter?
179.
What is the right hand of fellowship?
180.
What exhortation was given to Paul's group?
181.
Did Paul show interest in it?
182.
Who would poor refer to?
183.
Was Paul's word zeal well spoken?