Galatians 2:1-10

The Preservation of the Gospel Message

Galatians chapter 2 recounts Paul's visit to Jerusalem after 14 years, where he defended the gospel he preached to the Gentiles. This passage connects to the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, addressing the same issue facing the Galatian churches: whether circumcision is required for salvation. The theme of these first 10 verses is the preservation of the gospel message in its integrity.

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preached 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, which 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.

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. 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. They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

Paul presents five key aspects of preserving the gospel: in debate, in examples, in uncompromising stances, in unity, and ultimately in God Himself.

1. Preservation of the Gospel in Debate

Paul went to Jerusalem by revelation to present the gospel he preached: Jesus Christ crucified for our sins, raised for our justification. Debates erupted with Pharisees insisting on circumcision for salvation. Paul argued intensely at Antioch and again in Jerusalem. Defending the gospel is essential because compromising it leads people to trust in works like circumcision, creating false assurance of salvation and minimizing Christ's work.

Paul's confidence came from receiving the gospel directly from Christ, not humans. He presented it privately to leaders lest the Jerusalem church endorse the false teaching, jeopardizing his ministry. Yet he was fully confident his gospel aligned with Christ's.

2. Preservation of the Gospel in Examples

Paul brought Titus, an uncircumcised Greek, as a living example of salvation by faith alone. Titus was not compelled to be circumcised, demonstrating Christian liberty—the freedom to believe in Christ without works.

Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

Titus remained unimpressed by arguments for circumcision, satisfied with Christ's sufficient work. No argument for works—circumcision, baptism, or sacraments—compares to Jesus' sacrifice.

3. Preservation of the Gospel in Uncompromising Stances

False brethren infiltrated to spy on Christian liberty and bring believers into bondage. Paul did not yield submission even for an hour, ensuring the gospel's truth continued with the Galatians.

Yet not even Titus... was compelled to be circumcised, which 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.

These Judaizers were false brethren, not genuine believers seeking the church's good. Paul refused compromise, as yielding would destroy salvation opportunities. True defense of the gospel prioritizes souls over avoiding offense.

4. Preservation of the Gospel in Unity

James, Cephas (Peter), and John—pillars of the church—added nothing to Paul's gospel after 14 years apart. They recognized God's grace in his ministry and extended the right hand of fellowship, confirming unity in the gospel despite different fields: Paul to Gentiles, them to the circumcised.

But from those who seemed to be something... added nothing to me. 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... they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.

Paul respected their reputation but emphasized the gospel's source in Christ. Unity flows from shared commitment to the unmixed gospel, not ignoring differences.

5. Preservation of the Gospel in God

God worked effectively in Peter and Paul, preserving the gospel's integrity. Paul was separated from apostles yet preached the same truth because God sovereignly preserved it through His people.

For He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles.

Applications for Believers

Confirm beliefs with Scripture, as James did at the council. Place confidence in the gospel's power to save, not works or experiences. Pursue unity around the pure gospel, not compromise. Recognize God's sovereignty in preserving it, spurring bold evangelism with guaranteed success—God saves through His Word. This gospel transforms rebels into holy, satisfied disciples.