The Titus Test Series

1. Paul said they had infiltrated his ranks – Gk. pareiserchomai

2. "para" means "with"

3. erchomai means to come in

4. The idea is of one slipping in with others.

5. Someone hiding with the crowd entering a building.

D. THEY WERE SPIES

1. Paul said they came to spy on them – Gk. Kataskopeo

2. kata mean against

3. skopeo means to look at critically - (skeptic)

4. Vine’s definition is - “to spy out with a view of overthrowing”

E. FALSE TEACHERS AND SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOR

1. Evidently, these bogus brothers slipped among Paul’s companions.

2. They passed themselves off as fellow believers and brothers.

3. They attempted to spy out Paul’s actions with a view of overthrowing the gospel of grace.

4. Their actions demonstrated the connection between a false teaching and shameful behavior.

IV. PAUL’S APOSTOLIC ACCEPTANCE (v.6-10)

A. THOSE WHO SEEMED IMPORTANT HAD NOTHING TO ADD

1. (v.6) “As for those who seemed to be important… those men added nothing to my message.”

2. These men had tremendous authority and influence.

3. Between the men assembled at this council, they wrote 20 of the books of the New Testament.

4. This conference was a summit of the “pillars” of the church (v.9)

5. But, “those men added nothing” to Paul’s message.

6. There was no correction needed.

7. There were no changes to be made.

8. They accepted Paul and gave their full endorsement to Paul’s message.

B. THEY RECOGNIZED PAUL’S CONTRIBUTION

1. Paul said in (v. 7), “…they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles…”

2. They recognized Paul’s contribution to the cause of Christ.

3. Paul was gifted and anointed to minister to the Gentiles.

4. They only added their blessing to his ordination.

5. When the A/G gives a man credentials, we don’t “ordain” him.

6. We merely recognize that he is ordained by God for the ministry.

7. This is what the Jerusalem Council did for Paul.

8. They recognized that he was ordained by God for the ministry.

C. THREE AFFIRMATIONS WERE MADE AT THIS SUMMIT

1. They affirmed ONE GOSPEL – preached to Jews and Gentiles alike.

2. They affirmed TWO APOSTOLIC CALLINGS – Peter was called to the Jews and Paul to the Gentiles.

3. They affirmed THREE PILLARS – Peter, James, and John were reputed to be pillars.

D. THE PILLARS ACCEPTED PAUL (v.9)

1. They “recognized the grace given” to Paul and accepted him as an equal.

2. They recognized his independent mission to the Gentiles.

3. They “gave (Paul) and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.”

4. Fellowship speaks of sharing and having all things in common.

5. This “right hand of fellowship” was a pledge to work together so that all men would be evangelized by the same gospel.

6. When these men shook hands as equals in the work of Christ, they brushed aside the troublemakers and established a new course for reaching the lost.

CONCLUSION:

A. TWO KEY THEMES OF GALATIANS 2:1-10

1. Widespread recognition of Paul’s gospel as the apostle’s gospel.

2. Increased unity in the church.

3. As a result of this summit, the apostles developed a practical division of labor for evangelizing the world.