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NASB | 1 John 2:3 ¶ By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 2:3 ¶ And this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings). |
Subject: abide |
Bible Note: Just what does Paul mean by Peter's hypocrisy? Galatians 2:11-16 This answer will be succinct when in actuality an excurses on table fellowship in the first century would be helpful and a complete commentary on Galatians would be most helpful. Unfortunately, we are stuck with dealing with things on a piece by piece level. When Peter comes to Antioch, it is after his Acts 10 experience. He clearly knows that eating with Gentile believers is permitted and that Gentiles are included in the family of God through Faith and not through a proselyte conversion ritual. Paul and Peter have already discussed with those in Jerusalem that Paul would go to the Gentiles, not requiring them to go through the ritual of conversion, and Peter to the Jews. While in Antioch, Peter finds no problem with eating with Gentile believers as one would expect from Acts 10-11. However, when certain men come from James, Peter reverts back to his pre-Acts 10 days. While he most assuredly still held to the post Acts 10 understanding, he lived in front of the Gentiles the way he believed prior to Acts 10. He would not associate with Gentiles in the covenant act of eating together. His actions toward the Gentiles would be tantamount to saying, “You really are not FULL covenant members with us.” That is contrary to the very Gospel Paul preached. Peter treated the Gentile believers as if they were “sinners”, ie. not “in the group.” Since Peter was to go to the Jews, he probably felt that he was justified in drawing back in order to keep good company with those to whom he was sent. While it’s permissible in some areas of interpretation to say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” This clearly is not permissible when non-negotiable issues arise. When Paul states that he was a “Jew to the Jews … and to those without Law as without Law” 1 Cor 9:20-21. He is not saying that he became a hedonist, or a law-breaker to win those people. He became like them in-as-much-as he could while remaining true to the Law of Christ. Peter’s actions on the other hand violated the very essence of the Promise of God to bless the nations; the Good News. Even though Acts 10-11 convinced the Apostles that Gentiles were not to be considered as unclean but full members of the family of God through Faith, not all Jewish Believers in Jesus appreciated this or accepted it outright. Such deeply held convictions, as false as they may be, are not easily confronted; I can say this with experience ;-) When Paul tells Peter he, “Lived like a Gentile.” He is not saying that Peter abandoned any part of the Law as a Gentile pagan would, but rather that he ate with, lived among, and accepted the Gentile as an equal. Before the men from James arrived, Peter lived as though there were no distinctions between the Jew and Gentile (as far as the Gospel is concerned). They were one community. Now with the men from James, he lives as though there are two communities, and “never the twain shall meet.” MJH |