Teaching Affirmed

Acceptance, Acknowledgment, Confirmation. These are things that all of us long for from our peers. Whether it be acceptance by a certain group of people or even an idea we have by anther person, confirmation that what we are doing is good or even just the acknowledgement that we exist.

Paul finds these very things from a later visit to Jerusalem when a meeting is called to put in place the policy about the Gentiles, known to many as the council of Jerusalem. He mentions it in Galatians 2 and fits into the account given by Luke in Acts 15. As we continue here with the book of Galatians, feel free to turn to your favorite translation or continue reading for the Holman Christian Standard. We will be looking at Galatians 2:1-10.

Then after 14 years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. ² I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles—but privately to those recognized as leaders—so that I might not be running, or have run the race, in vain. 

Galatians 2:1-2

Paul returns to Jerusalem again followed by some of the young men he has been teaching and training for ministry. The fact that he is giving his testimony and sharing how he goes about teaching the gospel in a private setting and in front of leaders suggests that this is part of the Council of Jerusalem mentioned in Acts 15. (I know I am repeating myself here, but this is the biblical back up to it.) Paul wants to make sure that what he is teaching is not contrary to what is being preached in Jerusalem and if so than much of the past 14 years has been all in vain.

³ But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. ⁴ This issue arose because of false brothers smuggled in, who came in secretly to spy on the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. ⁵ But we did not give up and submit to these people for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you.

Galatians 2:3-4

Like I mentioned in the last post there was still a group amongst the believers who thought that the Gentiles must first become circumcised (aka become Jews) before fully becoming Christians. Something Paul strongly disagreed with and was willing to defend on a regular basis. However, among the core leaders and apostles they seemed to accept Paul’s position on the issue. Some of this may have to do with Peter’s vision and interactions with Cornelius and his household in Acts 10 and 11.

⁶ Now from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favorites)—they added nothing to me. ⁷ On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter was for the circumcised, ⁸ since the One at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. ⁹ When James, Cephas, and John, recognized as pillars, acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I made every effort to do.

Galatians 2: 6-10

In the end, Paul is acknowledged and told to keep doing what he is doing. The only thing the leaders asked was that Paul remember the poor, something Paul was already doing. From here Paul is not given much opposition when it comes to this topic of the Gentiles coming to faith. Or at least in person, in many of the letters Paul writes there seems to be those who come after Paul has left to try to lead the newly formed church astray.

The biggest take away from this passage is to seek out the advice other Christians who have experience in an area you are having difficulties with or have goal you want to pursue. It may be that they have key resources that you may need to help in the situation, or even if they will continue to pray for you as you seek out answers. Paul wanted to make sure that he was part of the solution and not the problem. He on at least two occasions checked in with those in Jerusalem to make sure that he was teaching and preaching the same gospel message and Jesus to those outside of Jerusalem and the Jewish faith.

My challenge to you this week is to reach out to someone when you have an issue. It may just be the one thing you need the most.