NOVEMBER 6, 2022
THE APOSTLE’S DEFENSE OF HIMSELF AND HIS OFFICE (PART II)
INTRODUCTION:
1. Paul began the body of the Galatian Epistle by expressing grief and amazement over the defection of some who had removed from the true Gospel to a false gospel. He then denounced the messengers of this false gospel in the strongest of terms. (Verses 6-9)
2. Knowing that the method of the false teachers in promoting their false gospel included convincing their hearers that he was not a true apostle, Paul immediately began to defend himself and his office.
3. This defense begins at Verse 10 of Chapter 1, and continues through the end of Chapter 2.
I. THE APOSTLE ENDEAVORS TO PROVE THAT HE WAS A GOD-CALLED, GOD-TAUGHT APOSTLE WHOSE PURPOSE WAS TO PLEASE GOD AND NOT MAN. (CH. 1:10-12)
II. THE APOSTLE OFFERS THE HISTORICAL PROOF OF HIS DIVINE CALLING AND COMMISSION. (CH. 1:13-17)
III. THE APOSTLE RECORDS HIS VISITS TO JERUSALEM, AND THE APPROVAL THAT HIMSELF AND HIS MINISTRY RECEIVED FORM THE OTHER APOSTLES. (CH. 1:18-2:10)
A. PAUL, AFTER THREE YEARS, MADE A BRIEF VISIT TO JERUSALEM AT WHICH TIME HE BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH PETER AND JAMES. (CH. 1:18-20)
1. This is probably the visit of which we are told in Acts 9:26, 27. This means that it was after he returned from Arabia to Damascus.
2. His object was to meet Peter, which he did, and was guest of Peter for 15 days. It was important to Paul to meet the Apostle of most renown. It was Peter who made that noble declaration, Matt. 16:16; the man who had preached the sermon at Pentecost which produced three thousand converts. (Acts 2:14-41)
3. The only other person of prominence which Paul met on this visit to Jerusalem was “James the brother of Jesus.” This designation is believed by some to distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee, and form James the son of Alphaeus. (Matt. 10:2, 3) In which case, he is called an apostle, but in a more general sense. Others believe that he is James the son of Alphaeus, the Lord’s cousin, thus the word rendered “brother” merely means a near relative. In any case, this James was very prominent in the church at Jerusalem, as is evident from Acts 12:17; 15:13-29; 21:18; and Gal. 2:9, 12.
4. We are not told what was discussed during this visit. Most likely Peter informed Paul about Christ’s life and ministry, and together with James, about the state of the church at Jerusalem. Paul would have related to Peter and James, in addition to what Barnabas had told them, (Acts 9:27) many things about his own conversion, calling, and ministry up to this point.
5. That he saw none of the other apostles (Verse 19) was probably because they were absent from Jerusalem at this time. Although the apostles did not immediately leave Jerusalem, (Acts 8:1) it appears form Acts 11:30 and 12:1, 2 that they, except for Peter and James, (John’s brother whom Herod killed) did leave afterward. By this time, there must have been many Christian communities scattered throughout the country in need of leadership.
6. Paul was clearly aware that his representation of the facts would be challenged by his opponents. He therefore solemnly affirms his testimony with an appeal to God’s own presence and omniscience. (Verse 20)
B. HE WENT TO SYRIA AND CILICIA, NOT BEING PERSONALLY KNOWN TO THE CHURCHES OF JUDEA. (CH. 1:21-24)
1. Paul states only the bare facts about his coming to the districts of Syria and Cilicia. (Verse 21) Luke tells that it was because of another plot against Paul’s life that the brethren at Jerusalem assisted him, and the Lord Himself appeared to him with encouraging words. (Acts 9:30; 22:17-21) His point is that he was removed to remote areas where contact with the twelve was impossible, so that he received not the Gospel from them, nor was he seriously influenced by them.
2. As he continues, (Verses 22, 23) he explains that he was still unknown to the Christian churches of Judea. His former days of persecution had been largely confined to Jerusalem. Thus in other parts he was not recognized. As a result, the Christians simply kept hearing, “He who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith which once he destroyed.”
3. Paul concludes, “And they were glorifying God in me,” i.e. on my account. (Verse 24)
4. What a crushing argument against the Judaizers who were slandering Paul for proclaiming a wrong kind of gospel.
C. HE VISITED JERUSALEM AGAIN AFTER AN INTERVAL OF FOURTEEN YEARS. (CH. 2:1-10)
1. In Chapter 1 the Apostle showed that he had received his Gospel directly from Christ, and not form or through men. He spoke of his brief visit to Jerusalem, in which he spent time with only some of the twelve. Thus, he was not taught it by the apostles. Now, he relates another visit to Jerusalem much later on, in which his Gospel, which he received not from men, was acknowledged as valid by the pillars at Jerusalem. As soon as they saw that Paul and Barnabas had been divinely entrusted with the Gospel, they extended to them the right hand of fellowship.
2. Between the trip to Jerusalem mentioned in Ch. 1:18 and the one mentioned here, Paul had been in Tarsus, had labored with Barnabas at Antioch of Syria, had accompanied Barnabas on a relief mission to Jerusalem, had gone back to Antioch, and had with Barnabas made his first missionary journey. It was form Antioch to which they had returned that the two of them, along with Titus, came again to Jerusalem. (Verse 1)
a) They were sent to Jerusalem in order to assure freedom over against the insistence of the Judaizers that the Gentiles be circumcised. (See Acts 15:1, 2; Gal. 5:1)
b) In the end result, as is plain from the record of that meeting in Acts 15, Titus was not compelled to be circumcised. (Verse 3)
c) At that time, a letter was sent to all of the churches freeing all Gentile converts from the unwarranted demands of the Judaizers. (See Acts 15:24-29)
d) What a weighty argument this fact was against the false teachers who were “subverting the souls” of the Galatians in the same way.
3. Regarding the visit here mentioned, Paul asserts that he “went up by revelation.” (Verse 2)
a) He was not summoned by the Apostles to this meeting, but came in consequence of a direct communication from his Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.
b) Of the nature of this revelation we are not particularly told, but as Paul himself accounts, he was favored with “abundant revelation.” (II Cor. 12:7)
4. Paul communicated to the Apostles at Jerusalem his mode of preaching the Gospel among the Gentiles. (Verse 2)
a) He speaks of the men of repute with whom he met privately.
b) He repeatedly uses this kind of phraseology when referring to Peter, James, John, etc. He is not disparaging these men, but simply using the term which his opponents used. They made it a habit to exalt these three at the expense of Paul, who was insignificant in their eyes.
c) He met with these men to make sure of their attitude toward those who were questioning the rightness of his convictions and preaching of justification by faith without the works of the Law. “…lest by any means I should run, or had run in vain.”
5. Any fears which Paul may have had on this score were quickly dispelled. (Verses 3-5)
a) Titus, who was with him as an example of a Gentile believer. They could not help but acknowledge that God had done a saving, transforming work in Titus. He was a living proof in the judgment of the Apostles at Jerusalem that circumcision was not necessary for salvation. (Verse 3)
b) The Apostle well knew that the circumcision of the flesh meant nothing, only that of the heart availed anything. (Rom. 2:28, 29) Though he had circumcised Timothy, whose father was a Greek, and his mother a Jewess, to render him acceptable to the Jews, he was perfectly consistent in resisting the circumcision of Titus. He was the more determined in the matter, from being aware of false brethren whose great object was to bring Christ’s disciples under the bondage of Judaism. (Verse 4)
c) For those who would pervert the genuineness and simplicity of the Gospel, Paul had no time. (Verse 5) He was disposed to forbearance, but not with those who preached another gospel.
6. The Apostle had communicated the doctrine he preached to the most influential members of the church at Jerusalem, referred to by him as “those who seemed to be somewhat.” He then adds in parenthesis, “whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me, God accepteth no man’s person.” (Verse 6)
a) This was meant to confirm what the Apostle had particularly in mind in these first two chapters, i.e. his entire independence of the instructions of men to qualify him as an Apostle of Jesus Christ.
b) The Judaizers endeavored to depreciate him, and to exalt the other apostles, who had been personally taught by the Lord prior to His ascension. However, the great Head of the Church had so abundantly communicated the knowledge of the truth to Paul as to preclude any additions from those who had been so highly favored.
7. The grace bestowed on Paul excited no jealousy in the other Apostles. They plainly saw that the Lord had committed to him “the gospel of the uncircumcision.” (Verse 7)
8. The Apostles at Jerusalem, who would never have questioned that Peter’s particular calling and empowerment was of God, could also recognize that the same was true of Paul. (Verse 8)
9. The most prominent figures in the church at Jerusalem recognized God’s grace in Paul and Barnabas. They expressed their approval, and gave their full blessing to their ministry to the Gentiles. (Verse 9) This is not that James who was peculiarly distinguished along with Peter and John by our Lord while He was upon earth. Before the period here referred to James, the son of Zebedee, John’s brother, had been put to death by Herod. (Acts 12:1, 2) Always when that “inner circle” is mentioned, Peter is named first, then James and John. This James was quite prominent at Jerusalem, for he dwelt there, and consequently presided over the church.
10. There was agreement among all of these men respecting the essence of the Gospel and about the division of the field of labor. However, one stipulation was added. (Verse 10) The poor saints in Judea were to be remembered and cared for even though Paul’s ministry would take him to the Gentiles. To this Paul heartily agreed, already being so inclined. Paul was always very conscientious about collecting for the poor saints at Jerusalem. (Acts 11:27-30; I Cor. 16:1; II Cor. 8:14)
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