Galatians 2

The Jerusalem Conference

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.

Paul Confronts Peter at Antioch

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?

Justification by Faith, Not Works

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!”

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Next Galatians 3

Paul recounts his second visit to Jerusalem where church leaders affirmed his ministry to the Gentiles, confirming that circumcision was not required for salvation. He then describes confronting Peter in Antioch for withdrawing from Gentile fellowship under pressure from Jewish Christians, using this incident to articulate the fundamental principle that justification comes through faith in Christ, not adherence to the law. This chapter establishes Paul's apostolic authority while defending the gospel of grace against those who would impose Jewish legal requirements on Gentile converts.

Context

This chapter continues Paul's defense of his apostolic authority from chapter 1 while transitioning to the theological arguments about law versus grace that dominate chapters 3-4.

Key Themes

Outline

1-2
Paul's Return to Jerusalem Paul visits Jerusalem by revelation after fourteen years, presenting his gospel to church leaders.
3-5
Titus Not Compelled to Be Circumcised Despite pressure from false brothers, Titus remains uncircumcised, preserving gospel freedom.
6-10
Recognition of Paul's Apostleship Jerusalem leaders acknowledge Paul's calling to the Gentiles and extend fellowship.
11-14
Paul Confronts Peter's Hypocrisy Paul publicly rebukes Peter for withdrawing from Gentile fellowship under Jewish pressure.
15-21
Justification by Faith Alone Paul articulates that righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not works of the law.

The Jerusalem Conference

2:1–2:10

epistle narration contemplative

Paul describes his visit to Jerusalem fourteen years later where the apostolic leaders recognized his ministry to the Gentiles and extended fellowship, confirming the division of missionary work between circumcised and uncircumcised peoples.

person_contrast

Paul's private consultation with Jerusalem's "respected" leaders before presenting publicly reveals his strategic diplomacy, contrasting sharply with his typical bold confrontational style seen throughout his other epistles.

Paul Confronts Peter at Antioch

2:11–2:14

epistle narration defiant

Paul confronts Peter at Antioch for his hypocrisy in withdrawing from fellowship with Gentiles when Jewish Christians arrived. This confrontation addresses the fundamental issue of Jewish-Gentile unity in the early church.

person_contrast

Paul's public confrontation of Peter represents the only recorded instance where one apostle formally rebukes another "to his face" in the New Testament.

Justification by Faith, Not Works

2:15–2:21

epistle instruction urgent

Paul teaches that justification comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not works of the law. He declares his spiritual union with Christ through crucifixion and resurrection life.

person_contrast

Paul's radical declaration "I have been crucified with Christ" transforms justification from legal acquittal into mystical union, making this passage uniquely experiential among his theological arguments.

Insight Character Study

Paul's public confrontation of Peter represents the only recorded instance where one apostle formally rebukes another "to his face" in the New Testament.

Insight Character Study

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Galatians 2:1 3 references

Lexicals 3

Galatians 1:18 Lexical

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.

Galatians 2

The Jerusalem Conference

Paul Confronts Peter at Antioch

Justification by Faith, Not Works

The Jerusalem Conference

Paul Confronts Peter at Antioch

Justification by Faith, Not Works

Insights

Cross-References

Galatians 2:1 3 references

Galatians 2:2 4 references

Galatians 2:3 2 references

Galatians 2:7 3 references

Galatians 2:8 1 reference

Galatians 2:9 2 references

Galatians 2:14 3 references

Galatians 2:16 5 references

Galatians 2:19 2 references

Galatians 2:20 5 references

Galatians 2:21 2 references

Interlinear

Historical Context

Timeline

Crucifixion