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2021-Galatians 4--O Grip on Grace Studies in Galatians Lesson 4: Paul Rebukes Peter Galatians 2:11-21 11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? 15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. 17 "If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Peter's cowardly duplicity ▲Peter's address at Jerusalem ►Peter stood at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:7-11 (Galatians 2:1-10) to defend salvation by grace through faith in Christ for both Jews and Gentiles. ►At the Council, Peter argued persuasively based on his own experience at the house of Cornelius in Caesarea some 13 years earlier (Acts 10). ►Peter argued the following: 1. God showed that He accepted the uncircumcised Gentiles (Acts 15:8) by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as God had done for the apostles; 2. Jews and Gentiles are saved in the same way—by faith (Acts 15:9) through grace (Acts 15:11); 3. It would constitute "testing God" (Acts 15:10) to add any other requirements for salvation, including any other requirements from the law of Moses; 4. The law of Moses was "a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear" (Acts 15:10). ▲Peter's arrival at Antioch Galatians 2:11 When Peter came to Antioch, ►Sometime after the Council (48/49AD), Peter made a visit to Antioch. The purpose of this visit is unclear, but seems to have been apostolic and pastoral in nature. ▲Peter's actions at Antioch ►His involvement with the Gentiles Galatians 2:12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. ►His insult to the Gentiles Galatians 2:12 But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles ►His intimidation by the Judaizers Galatians 2:12 because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. ►His influence on the other Jews Galatians 2:13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. Paul's confrontational diatribe ▲Paul's fierce personal assault Galatians 2:11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. ––––– 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? ▲Paul's fiery public argumentation ►Our spiritual frustration as Jews Galatians 2:15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, ––––– because by observing the law no one will be justified. ►Our saving faith in Jesus Galatians 2:15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, ►Our sinner-status shown as we seek forgiveness and favor through faith in Jesus Galatians 2:17 "If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. ►Our spiritual flourishing in Jesus Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" 1. We live relying on and relating to his death ––– I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, 2. We live raised and resurrected into his life ––– but Christ lives in me. 3. We live relieved and rejoicing in his grace ––– I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Peter and Paul 1. Visits between Peter and Paul 35 AD Acts 9:26; Galatians 1:18 Saul visits Jerusalem three years after his conversion, is befriended by the apostles through the mediation of Barnabas, and stays with Peter fifteen days. 46 AD* Acts 11:30 Saul and Barnabas travel from Antioch to Jerusalem to deliver a benevolence offering to “the elders” during the Judean famine. 49 AD Acts 15:2; Galatians 2:1 Peter and Paul both testify at the Jerusalem Council to discuss the Gentiles and circumcision. 49 AD Galatians 2:11 Peter travels from Jerusalem to visit the Antioch church. 57 AD* Acts 21:17-18 Paul, Luke, and their companions arrive at Jerusalem after Paul’s third missionary journey and are welcomed by “the brothers” along with “James, and all the elders.” *Peter is not mentioned by name on these occasions in Acts, but he was potentially and probably present. 2. Paul refers to Peter in his letters 49 AD In his letter to the Galatians Galatians 1:15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. Galatians 2:7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. Galatians 2:11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? 56 AD In his first canonical letter to the Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1:12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas’”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:21 So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future —all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
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