COMMENTARY ON GALATIANS

LESSON NUMBER 7

Chapter Two, Verses 1-5

“Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. And it was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.'

THREE YEARS LATER

“Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days.. . . “ (NIV).

              Paul’s total reliance was upon the Lord Jesus Christ. His zeal for the knowledge of the Son of God began immediately after he was “illuminated” (Heb 10:32), or “born again.” On the surface, this may appear of small significance, but this is not the case. Remember, Paul was a “Pharisee the son of a Pharisee” (Acts 23:6). He had access to all of the accumulated wisdom of the religious elite, as well as the “Apostles of the Lamb.” But he did not choose to spend time in the vicinity of these resources until “after three years.” That lengthy period was spent in Arabia and Damascus—certainly not citadels of spiritual culture.

              This confirms the satisfying element of fellowship with the Son Himself—”THREE YEARS!” This was, of course, time with Jesus equal to that of the Apostles. The Lord Himself equips those that He calls. He not only places the members in the body where He pleases, He equips and empowers them for their ministry (1 Cor 12:4-6). This is one of the aspects of Christ’s Headship over the church. He is not only “Head” in the sense of authority. He is primarily “Head” in the matter of ministration (Col 2:19).

              Paul mentioned “Peter” as the target of his interest. It must have been a profitable experience—over two weeks! This is the man Jesus commissioned to “feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17). Jesus had told him to “strengthen thy brethren” following his conversion (Luke 22:32). You can rest assured Peter did this during this time, as Paul shared his insights with him. It is “good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psa 133), and here is an excellent case in point.

              Paul did not spend time with the other Apostles—remarkably, that included John the beloved! Paul only mentions “James the Lord’s brother.” James was not an Apostle, yet, like Andonicus and Junia, was “of note among the Apostles” (Rom 16:7). It is possible to excel, even though you do not have the apparent advantages of others. James contributed a book to the Word of God, excelling his peers, even as Paul “labored more abundantly” than the other Apostles (1 Cor 15:10). This should be a great encouragement to every child of God. You are not inhibited by your station in life. You can excel where you are!

I WAS STILL UNKNOWN

“I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. . . . “(NIV)

              After visiting Peter and seeing James, Paul went into “Syria and Cilicia.” The pattern is again interesting. Neither of these places were spiritual citadels—not centers of spiritual culture, like Jerusalem of Antioch. Early in Christ’s ministry, His fame had went “throughout all Syria” (Matt 4:24). When Jesus was born, the taxing that occurred at that time was made by Cyrenius, governor of Syria (Lk 2:2). Although believers were reported from these areas during Paul’s early ministry (Acts 15:23,41), they represented mission fields more than distribution centers. Remember, the individual with the indwelling Christ sanctifies the area—not visa versa.

              It is one thing to be “unknown” in the world (2 Cor 6:9). It is quite another to be to not be personally known “by the churches.” This does not mean the “churches of Judea” had not heard ABOUT Paul—they had no personal acquaintance with him. Once again, this was not a handicap to the Apostle. Reading between the lines, as it were, you can see the confidence and assurance that was within the Apostle. He had spent time with Jesus, and it had made him adequate for his ministry. He did not need to be “known” to be productive! Nor, indeed, did he require the approval of other believers at this time. It is true that approval was given later in his ministry (Acts 9:27). However, Paul did not aggressively seek the approval of men—even “the churches.”

              In a day when religious politics are dominating, it is important to learn something from our exposure to the Apostle Paul. Those that “love the praise of men more than the praise of God” fall into many snares (John 12:43). The frame of spirit that seeks honor from men inhibits faith, which alone can save the soul (John 5:44). Blessed is that person who makes the knowledge of the Lord Jesus his first priority. Later in Paul’s ministry, he shared his priorities. They were uncomplicated in statement, but profound in experience. They were, the Person of “Christ,” “the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,” “winning Christ,” being “found in” Christ, “ knowing “Him,” knowing the “power of His resurrection,” knowing “the fellowship of His sufferings,” “being made conformable to His death,” and attaining “unto the resurrection of the dead” (Phil 3:7-11). I suggest that these were Paul’s driving compulsions from the very beginning, thereby accounting for his approach to acquaintance with the Apostles and the churches after He confronted the Lord’s Christ.

...WHO ONCE PERSECUTED

“The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy . . . ” (NIV)

              How it must have grieved the Apostle to have been known for persecuting believers, and trying to “destroy the faith!” Often he referred to this dark segment of his life. Standing before the Jewish leaders, he confessed he had “persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,” bringing many of them “bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 22:4-5). Before Agrippa, Paul said, “I persecuted them even unto strange cities” (Acts 26:11). To the Corinthians he declared he was “am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Cor 15:9). He referred to himself as the “chief” of sinners—not because of immorality or indulgence in the baser lusts of the flesh, but because of his opposition of the church of God (1 Tim 1:15).

              It is one thing to have engaged in such atrocities against the saints of the most high God, it is quite another to be known for such activity after having repented of the deeds! Past sins are forgiven by God in their totality. The confirmation of that forgiveness, however, is seen in the redirected lives of the forgiven ones. Our reputations precede us! The “past” is something from which we have been delivered. Let no man boast in it, as though it were an advantage to be a sinner.

              The indication of Paul’s change was not an overt adjustment in the way he lived. He lived an outwardly pure life before he was in Christ Jesus. The sign of his conversion was that he was now “preaching the faith he once tried to destroy” (v 23, NIV). From trying to suppress the Gospel to aggressively proclaiming the Gospel! That is genuine conversion. We know from Scripture that Paul engaged in proclaiming Christ immediately after his conversion. As soon as his sight had been restored and he had taken nourishment from his three day fast, it is written, “At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20).

              The people were astounded at Paul’s zealous proclamations (Acts 9:21). There appeared to be some skepticism about the genuineness of Paul's conversion. “Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 9:22). Spiritual life cannot be suppressed by doubt!

              Paul testifies to the Galatians that God was glorified because of him , “they praised God because of me” (Gal 1:24, NIV). Here is a noble objective for every believer—to be a cause for praise and thanksgiving to the living God! Life in Christ will do this!