Galatians Chapter 2
Galatians
2 summarizes Paul's defense of the true Gospel of grace, showing that
justification (being made right with God) comes only by faith in Jesus
Christ, not by works of the Law, even for Jewish believers. Paul
recounts his meeting with Jerusalem apostles (Peter, James, John) who
affirmed his mission to the Gentiles, followed by his public
confrontation with Peter in Antioch for hypocritically withdrawing from
Gentile believers. The chapter concludes that believers are crucified
with Christ, living by faith in Him, and should not return to legalism,
emphasizing that their life is now Christ living in them.
Verse 1: How many years before Paul went to Jerusalem again?
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas and also took Titus with me. Galatians 2:1
Answer: Paul went to Jerusalem after 14 years. Acts 15.
Verses 2-3: What were the Judaizers preaching?
And I went up by revelation and communicated to them that gospel which
I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of
reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. Yet not
even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be
circumcised. Galatians 2:2-3
Answer: They were preaching the law by promoting circumcision.
Verses 4-5: Why were Judaizers false brethren?
And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who
came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ
Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield
submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might
continue with you. Galatians 2:4-5
Answer: They wanted people to be in bondage to the law.
Verse 6: Why was Paul not impressed by the other apostles?
But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes
no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those
who seemed to be something added nothing to me. Galatians 2:6
Answer: God shows personal favoritism to no one.
Verses 7-9: What prompted the other apostles to accept Paul?
But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the
uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the
circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for
the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward
the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be
pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me
and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the
Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Galatians 2:7-9
Answer: When they perceived the grace that was given to Paul.
Verse 10: What is the common ministry of Christians?
They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. Galatians 2:10
Answer: Christians are to remember the poor.
Verses 11-13: Why is discrimination hypocrisy?
Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who
were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the
hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their
hypocrisy. Galatians 2:11-13
Answer: Christians are not to discriminate against anyone.
Verse 14: Why did Paul confront Peter?
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of
the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live
in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel
Gentiles to live as Jews? Galatians 2:14
Answer: Peter was compelling people to maintain the law.
Verses 15-16: How are we justified before God?
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing
that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in
Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be
justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by
the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. Galatians 2:15-16
Answer: Christians are justified before God by faith in Jesus Christ.
Verses 17-18: What does the law cause us to be?
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are
found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!
For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a
transgressor. Galatians 2:17-18
Answer: The law causes people to be transgressors.
Verse 19: How do you live to God?
For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. Galatians 2:19
Answer: People must forget the law so that we can live to God.
Verse 20: How are we to live this life?
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live
by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
Answer: We are to live by faith in Jesus Christ.
Verse 21: What should we never set aside?
I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. Galatians 2:21
Answer: We should never set aside the grace of God.