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NASB | Galatians 2:11 ¶ But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Galatians 2:11 ¶ Now when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him face to face [about his conduct there], because he stood condemned [by his own actions]. |
Bible Question:
I was just doing my daily reading and came across some rather harsh words from one Apostle to another. It seems curious the Holy Spirit allowed to Peter to make this mistake, especially after his special revelation in Acts 10. Is God trying to proclaim something special by allowing such a confrontation to become known throughout the Christian world? Notice Paul's buddy, Barnabas even gets swirled into this controversy. What's the Lord's ultimate purpose in telling this story? Yes, this is a repeat of my previous post. Since I wasn't getting any responses, I thought I would repost since I finally learned how to post a question properly. Do forgive and tell me what you think. I'm quoting the whole story from Paul for your reference. Gal 2:11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 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. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14 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? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 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. God bless you all, Inquisitor |
Bible Answer: Dear Inquisitor In your referencing Gal.2:11-16 for your question, you have stopped short of your answer. Remember there is always a context to the things written. We must all learn to interpret scripture in context. Whenever we come to a point in our reading where a question arises, we should keep reading. By doing this we will come to the conclusion of the thought. In this case if you keep reading to the end of the chapter, (17-21) you will find Paul teaches that we are dead to the law. That is what the whole confrontation was about. Peter was putting himself back under the law, because of his fear of what other Jewish believers might say about him. We then see Paul's thought carry over to Gal.3:1,2 where Paul says "who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth," "Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" It looks like Paul is recounting this incident with Peter to the Galatians as an example to them that they are doing the same, or as an example that no one is immune to error. Paul is very concerned that the Gentile believers do not become Judaized (polluted). Paul reiterates these same beliefs in Phil.3:2,3. We then find later on in this book where Paul teaches this. Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. After reading that it doesn't appear that Paul was heeding his own teaching that day with Peter does it. Now in regards to your questions about why the Holy Spirit would allow this to take place, or what God is trying to proclaim. Scripture does not say in this case. But I hope my answer will give you some possible reasons why the confrontation took place, maybe then you will gain the light you are looking for. Hoping this might help you:-) 108cious |