"THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"

                              Chapter Two

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To understand why Paul would refuse to circumcise Titus (but then
   had Timothy circumcised later, as recorded in Acts 16:1-3)

2) To appreciate why it was necessary for Paul to rebuke Peter to his
   face

3) To understand why if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ's
   death was in vain

SUMMARY

As Paul continues defending his apostleship, he describes a meeting in
Jerusalem fourteen years after the one with Peter related in chapter
one.  It was prompted by a revelation, and Barnabas and Titus went with
him to meet "those who were of reputation."  The meeting was private,
but some false brethren were secretly brought in who sought to demand
that Titus, a Gentile, be circumcised.  Paul refused, viewing it as an
effort to bring them back into bondage from which Christ set them free
(1-5).

The result of the meeting was that "those who seemed to be something"
added nothing to Paul.  In fact, once they saw that the gospel of the
uncircumcised had been given to him just as the gospel of the
circumcised had been given to Peter, and once James, Cephas, and John
perceived the grace that had been given to Paul, he was extended the
right hand of fellowship.  They only asked that Paul be mindful of the
poor, something he was very eager to do (6-10).

The rest of the chapter describes a confrontation in Antioch between
Peter and Paul.  Peter, who was visiting, at first was willing to eat
with the Gentiles; but when some came from James, out of fear he
withdrew himself.  Through his influence the rest of the Jews, even
Barnabas, were carried away into hypocrisy.  This prompted Paul to
withstand Peter "to his face," and to rebuke him in the presence of
all.  In the course of his rebuke, Paul stressed that we are justified
by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; otherwise, Christ
died in vain (11-24).

OUTLINE

I. THE MEETING AT JERUSALEM (1-10)

   A. IN PRIVATE, WITH THOSE OF REPUTATION (1-5)
      1. Occurring fourteen years later, accompanied by Barnabas and
         Titus (1)
      2. Spurred to go by revelation, he communicated the gospel he had
         preached (2)
      3. Refused to allow Titus to be circumcised, as some brethren
         desired who were secretly brought in to the meeting (3-5)

   B. HIS SANCTION BY JAMES, CEPHAS, AND JOHN (6-10)
      1. Those who seemed to be something (reputation really made no
         difference) did not add anything to Paul (6)
      2. When those of reputation saw...
         a. That the gospel of the uncircumcised had been committed to
            Paul just as the gospel of the circumcised was to Peter
            (7-8)
         b. That James, Cephas, and John perceived the grace given to
            Paul
         ...they extended the right hand of fellowship to Paul and
            Barnabas (9)
      3. They asked only that the poor be remembered, something Paul
         was very eager to do (10)

II. THE CONFRONTATION AT ANTIOCH (11-21)

   A. PETER'S HYPOCRISY (11-13)
      1. Paul had to withstand Peter to the face because he would not
         eat with Gentiles when those from James came to Antioch
         (11-12)
      2. Peter's example of hypocrisy influenced other Jews, even
         Barnabas (13)

   B. PAUL'S REBUKE (14-21)
      1. Peter's hypocrisy (14)
         a. He himself, though Jewish, lived as a Gentile
         b. Yet he was compelling Gentiles to live as Jews
      2. A summary of Paul's rebuke (15-21)
         a. Jewish Christians realize that they are justified by faith
            in Christ, not by the works of the law by which no flesh
            can be justified (15-16)
         b. If I seek to be justified by Christ through a means which
            cannot justify, isn't that making Christ a minister of sin?
            (17)
         c. If I rebuild that which cannot justify and has been
            destroyed (i.e., the law), won't I become a transgressor
            again? (18)
         d. Through the law, I have died to the law, having been
            crucified with Christ; Christ now lives in me and the life
            I now live to God is a life of faith in the Son of God
            (19-20)
         e. If righteousness comes through the law, Christ died in
            vain, and the grace of God has been set aside (21)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
Move your mouse pointer underneath each question to see the answer.

1) What are the main points of this chapter?




2) How long was it before Paul returned to Jerusalem?  Who went with
   him? (1)




3) What prompted him to go?  What did he do there? (2)





4) What did some who were secretly brought in to this meeting try to
   get Paul to do? Did Paul submit to their command? (3-5)




5) How do you reconcile Paul's refusal to circumcise Titus with the
   fact that Paul later had Timothy circumcised? (cf. Ac 16:1-3)






6) When did those who "seemed to be something" add to Paul? (6)



7) What two things prompted them to extend the right hand of fellowship
   to Paul and Barnabas? (7-9)








8) What was the only thing they asked of Paul? (10)



9) When Peter came to Antioch, why did Paul find it necessary to
   withstand him to his face? (11-12)





10) Who else was carried away by Peter's hypocrisy? (13)



11) Briefly describe Paul's main argument as found in verse 16.




12) How did Paul live his life, once he had died to the law? (19-20)





13) If righteousness can come through the law, what does that say about
    the death of Christ? (21)