Galatians 2:6-10

 

 

Gal 2:6 (KJB)

But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

 

Conference - Go for advice or consult with

 

Paul now refers to the true apostles and not the false teachers. Here he is speaking of conferring with the Apostles and we are given a very important principle. Even though some may seem to be in a more important or public situation, God does not view them as being any better than any other Christian. Every Christian is blood bought and has the same Holy Spirit indwelling in them. This means that God has invested the same in every true Christian. Paul is stating here that those who seemed to be something in the church at Jerusalem had added nothing to him. He was not being facetious here but he is giving us a great principle which should delight the heart of every true Christian. The principle is that those who are teaching the true Gospel will have the same teachings as any other Christian teaching the true Gospel. It does not matter if one is in a public setting and the other is well behind the scenes. If they are both teaching the truth, then neither will add to the other. However, this does not mean that both cannot support each other but it does mean that if both are teaching the truth, then the other will not be able to add anything to it. Many times in my own past I have studied something in the Scriptures and then it was confirmed to me by someone on the radio, or in a book, or on TV.

 

Gal 2:7 (KJB)

But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

 

Contrariwise - Instead or on the contrary

When they saw - Having perceived or having seen

Uncircumcision - A term describing the Gentiles

Committed - Having been entrusted with

Circumcision - A term describing the Jews

 

Paul was now recognized by the church in Jerusalem that his ministry has been directed toward the Gentiles. The same gospel that was entrusted to Peter toward the Jews was entrusted to Paul. Salvation was now directed toward both groups as the Lord had prophesied. (Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. That prophecy was now coming to pass as the ministry began going out to the world. No longer was the true Gospel confined only to Ancient National Israel but now the evangelization of the world had begun and would continue until the last day when the last one would become saved.

This verse gives us a very sobering reality. Just as Paul and Peter were entrusted with the gospel, so is every Christian. We are stewards of the gospel. (1 Cor 4:1 KJV) Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. A steward is one who manages a house for the master. It is the same with the Christians, we are stewards of the truth of God and we must proclaim only what is written in the Bible. It is a shame that so many are seeking after signs, wonders, date setters, self-aggrandizing church leaders, TV or radio personalities who are just perverting the truth of the Scriptures. They are seeking to supplant the truth of Scripture with their own ideas and “new revelations.” The time we presently live in has spawned so many false teachings and teachers that one must be very careful who they align with. We are entrusted with the entire Bible and we must interpret it carefully because any false teaching could ruin an individual for life.

 

Gal 2:8 (KJB)

(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

 

Paul is basically restating here what he stated in the previous verse. The same God who indwells Peter with the Holy Spirit and has given him the ministry to the Jews is that same God who has given Paul the Holy Spirit and the ministry to the Gentiles. There are many today who erroneously claim that the Jews are God’s chosen people. If this was the case and they are already saved, then why did God have Peter go to them and evangelize them. They are as unsaved as any other people on earth and should be seen as a mission field since when they die unsaved, they too will stand for their sins in judgment. God is no respecter of persons.

 

This verse also teaches that God gives a ministry to every Christian and while the ministry may be different, it has the same goal, and that is the salvation of the Elect of God in the world. You may not be able to go to a foreign mission field but you can sure send the tools needed for evangelism. The only reason evangelism is hindered is because we hinder it by our refusal to get involved. The same God who has people in different countries evangelizing is the same God who places it on your heart to send the tools such as Bibles or tracts or both.

 

Gal 2:9 (KJB)

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

 

Pillars - Used metaphorically as principal leaders in the church

The right hands of fellowship - A sign or recognition of welcome

Heathen - Gentiles

 

Once they were convinced that Paul was truly a born again Christian and not one who was infiltrating the church to build a legal case against them, Paul and Barnabas were given the right hand of fellowship by the church leaders, which means they were officially welcomed into the church. Here too Paul is stating that James, Peter, and John had the ministry to the Jews while He and Barnabas had the ministry to the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas were definitely one with the doctrines taught by the Apostles in that circumcision was unnecessary for salvation. This why they added nothing to Paul’s doctrine because they were in agreement.

 

Gal 2:10 (KJB)

Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

 

Two types of poor are to be remembered. The first are those who were economically poor since Jerusalem always had a high unemployment rate and there were many starving people. In Paul’s third missionary journey he had asked the churches to remember the needs of the Jerusalem church, which was, after all, the mother church. The second group are those who are spiritually poor or unsaved. Our primary responsibility is to preach the gospel to the unsaved masses of the world as best as we can and with whatever means are available to us. (Prov 13:7 KJV) There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. When a poor person receives the gospel and they become saved, their earthly economic situation may not change but the fact that they are poor in earthly goods does not represent the fact they are rich in spiritual goods.

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