Galatians 2

Paul recounts his visit to Jerusalem, where his gospel to the Gentiles was affirmed by the apostles, and Titus, a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised. Later, Paul publicly confronted Peter in Antioch for his hypocrisy in withdrawing from eating with Gentiles. The chapter culminates with Paul's declaration that justification comes by faith in Jesus Christ, not by the works of the law, emphasizing that he is crucified with Christ.

Paul details his second journey to Jerusalem, fourteen years after his conversion, accompanied by Barnabas and Titus, to present his gospel to the leading apostles. He highlights that Titus, being a Greek, was not forced into circumcision, resisting false brethren who sought to undermine Christian liberty. James, Cephas, and John, recognizing God's grace upon Paul, affirmed his ministry to the Gentiles and extended fellowship. Subsequently, in Antioch, Paul publicly rebuked Peter for his dissimulation, as Peter had withdrawn from eating with Gentiles due to fear of those from the circumcision party. Paul challenged Peter's inconsistency, arguing that if Jews live like Gentiles, they should not compel Gentiles to live as Jews. He then articulates the foundational truth that a person is justified by faith in Jesus Christ, not by adherence to the works of the law, for by the law no one can be justified. Paul concludes by stating that he is dead to the law through the law, crucified with Christ, so that Christ lives in him, and to seek righteousness through the law would render Christ's death in vain.

Paul begins by recounting his journey to Jerusalem fourteen years after his initial conversion, accompanied by Barnabas and Titus, a Greek. He explains that this journey was undertaken by revelation, where he privately communicated the gospel he preached to the Gentiles to those of reputation, to ensure his past and present labours were not in vain. A crucial point was that Titus, despite being a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised, a stand taken against "false brethren" who had infiltrated the community to spy on their liberty in Christ and bring them into bondage. Paul firmly states that they did not yield to these false brethren for even an hour, preserving the truth of the gospel. He asserts that the esteemed apostles in Jerusalem—James, Cephas (Peter), and John, whom he calls "pillars"—added nothing to his message, for God shows no partiality. Instead, they recognized that the gospel to the uncircumcised was committed to Paul, just as the gospel to the circumcised was committed to Peter, acknowledging the effective working of God in both. Consequently, they extended the right hand of fellowship to Paul and Barnabas, agreeing that Paul's mission was to the Gentiles and theirs to the Jews, with the sole request that they remember the poor, which Paul was eager to do. The narrative then shifts to an incident in Antioch where Paul publicly confronted Peter. Peter had initially eaten with Gentiles but withdrew and separated himself when certain individuals from James arrived, fearing those of the circumcision. This act of dissimulation led other Jews, including Barnabas, to follow suit, compromising the truth of the gospel. Paul rebuked Peter, questioning why, if Peter, a Jew, lived like a Gentile, he would then compel Gentiles to live like Jews. Paul then expounds on the doctrine of justification, stating that even Jews, knowing they are not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, have believed in Christ for justification. He emphatically declares that by the works of the law, no flesh shall be justified. Paul further explains that if, in seeking justification by Christ, they are found sinners, Christ is not a minister of sin; rather, rebuilding what was destroyed makes one a transgressor. He proclaims his death to the law through the law, enabling him to live unto God, stating, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." The life he now lives in the flesh is by the faith of the Son of God, who loved him, and gave himself for me. Paul concludes by affirming that he does not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness could come by the law, then Christ's death would have been in vain.