Galatians 2:1 - 2:21 Pages 1-8
We
began this Book of Galatians with Paul's Message to the Gauls, about how he was
struck down on the road to Damascus by Christ, and he now was preaching The
Gospel of Christ. Acts 9 reveals that event experienced by Paul,
as before Christ changed him; he was
on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians on authority by the scribes and
Pharisees who received not Jesus Christ as Messiah.
That Christ chose Paul, which means Paul did not make his own
free-will choice to believe on Jesus Christ, is a major lesson to us concerning
'election' and predestination. Moreover, that Paul was the greatest
persecutor of The Church at that time, and then suddenly turned against that
Jewish authority, and preached The Gospel, is certainly miraculous. Thus
Paul was chosen by God as an example for believers today also, so we would know
that our Heavenly Father is in control.
Some in the congregation of the Galatians
were listening to those who would pervert The Gospel of Christ by teaching to
go back to the ordinances in The Old Testament Law which Christ fulfilled on
the cross. As the Jews were strong in following those blood 'ordinances',
they were teaching that the Gentiles within the congregation must adhere to
them likewise. Why is understanding the differences in The Law which Christ
fulfilled on the cross important? Not all
of The Law was fulfilled on the cross. If It had been, Christ would not have
preached The Ten Commandments in His Gospel.
By not knowing the differences, some Christian groups teach that all of The Old
Testament Law and prophets was done away with. That is simply not
true.
Paul is going to cover some of these
differences here in Galatians, as we ask a Word of Wisdom in Christ Jesus'
Precious Name, Amen.
Gal
2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with
Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
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.
This was fourteen years after Paul's conversion
on the road to Damascus by Christ. Paul was called to return to Jerusalem to
help settle among the Church elders the same dispute here among the Galatians.
When Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch, certain ones came from Jerusalem
teaching that one must be circumcised in the flesh to be saved. Then Paul and
Barnabas went to Jerusalem to settle the matter among the Church elders there.
Evidently some false ones had crept in the Church already, and were
attempting to distort The Gospel. How is it today? Does it still happen
in many of Christ's Churches?
Gal 2:3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a
Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
This
word 'Greek' is 'Hellen'
which means an 'inhabitant of Hellas; by extension a
Greek-speaking person, especially a non-Jew'
(Strong's no.1672). The word 'Hellenist' is the proper
interpretation in most cases when this word 'Greek' is given in New Testament
Scripture.
Titus, being a Hellenist, or Greek,
had no need of flesh circumcision according to Paul's teaching of The Gospel of
Christ, nor does any Gentile have need. Circumcision according to Old Testament
Law, was now of the 'heart', not of the flesh;
Romans 2: Read
All.
It is now a good
practice for health reasons only and not religious reasons.
Gal
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: