Gal. 2:1-10, Paul’s Gospel was NOT from Men

·       The fruit of resisting those who denied the freedom of Christ, 2:1-5.

Paul is continuing to trace the after-effects of his conversion and call to be God’s servant to the Gentiles.  The point is that he did not receive his gospel from men but from God.  In today’s reading Paul speaks of an event that are recorded in Acts.  The question is, which event?  In Acts Paul went to Jerusalem, with Barnabas, with an offering for the Jerusalem Church (Ac. 11:27-30; 12:15).  This was precipitated by a message from a prophet named Agabus.  Many conclude this is what Paul is referring to, with respect to going up by revelation (Gal. 2:2) and his eagerness to care for the poor (2:10).  The primary problem with this view is the timing of 2:1: after fourteen years.  Paul’s conversion could not have occurred fourteen years before the trip for relief work. 

The later trip to Jerusalem, for the council of Acts 15, makes more sense.  Paul and Barnabas and certain others (Acts 15:2) went for the council; this could have included Titus (Gal. 2:3). The reason for the trip fits the statement about Titus (2:3), that he was not required to be circumcised; it was about the doctrine that was secretly brought in that denied believers of their liberty in Christ (2:4).  Paul did not yield to these people (2:5).  Furthermore, Acts 15 makes mention of James and Peter, who spoke at the council, and whom Paul references in Gal. 2:9.  The point of the council (are Gentiles required to keep the Mosaic Law) fits the whole point of Galatians.

·       The fruit of an effective ministry, 2:6-10.

Paul is very clear that, though he had conversations with the leadership in Jerusalem (James, Peter, John), they still added nothing to me.  We know this from Acts 15, that Peter reminded them of his ministry to the house of Cornelius (15:6-11), after which Paul and Barnabas shared the fruit of their ministry among the Gentiles (15:12), which was followed by words from James (who was the half-brother of Christ, an Elder, not one of the Apostles, 15:6).  In other words, they all agreed that the Gentiles were NOT required to keep the law of Moses. 

We should go back to Gal. 2:2 and consider why Paul was concerned about the possibility of running in vain.  He is concerned about his ministry being empty.  Does that mean he needed the confirmation of other men to be sure his doctrine was sound?  No!  It means he was concerned about his ministry being undermined by these false teachers.  I have seen this happen in ministry over the years.  If the shepherds are not careful, young believers can be diverted from the narrow path by deceitful or immature teachers who confuse them with a “worksy” approach to the Christian life.  People will consider it sensible if they are told, “God helps those who help themselves.”  Or “God saved you; the rest is up to you.”  This is a twisting of Scripture that is destructive to the immature believers.