Galatians 2:1-5
“Jerusalem Council”
• Vs. 1
• Time
o 14 years after his first trip to Jerusalem
• Reason
o Acts 13:42-49 (Began to preach to the Gentiles)
o Isaiah 49:6; Luke 2:25-32
o Acts 15:1-4
• Companions
o Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37; 9:26-27)
o Titus
• Vs. 2 Paul makes a pointed note that even though many in the church wanted him to make this trip, it was ultimately because he was told to do so by a revelation of God.
• Paul, even though he was an apostle on equal ground with the rest, out of respect kept it a private matter, preserving the work he had accomplished for the gospel of Christ. (1 Corinthians 9:27)
• Vs. 3 Titus vs. Timothy
o Acts 16:1-3
o Why was Paul compelled to have Timothy circumcised and not Titus?
o 1 Corinthians 8:9-11
o The mature have a responsibility to remove stumbling blocks for the weaker brother in Christ.
• Vs. 4 “False brethren” fake Christians or unbelievers (Acts 15:5)
• “Spy out” lying in wait ready to ambush.
• “Bondage” enslave them.
• Connecting vv. 3 & 4.
• Vs. 5 Paul said they stood firm(didn’t even give in for 1 hour), so that the truth of the gospel would “continue” or become a permanent fixture in their lives.
• Mark Dever in his book The Deliberate Church made this statement: “What you win them with is what you win them to.”
• That becomes our challenge as Christians, having that balance of putting others first but remaining steadfast in the truth of God’s word.
• Illustration: We don’t tear down our entire house in order to paint the kitchen.
• 1 Corinthians 3:11-13
