Verses 1-10 Paul and Peter at Jerusalem
Verses 11-21 Paul and Peter at Antioch
Remember that Galatians is a polemic--an argument. Paul is making the theological case for historical orthodoxy against the first major assault of heresy launched against the Church. This is Christianity's first major controversy. Paul first establishes his credentials--his authority--as an apostle and links his gospel to Jesus himself. This is important and speaks to us today.
There are many in our modern Christianity who have repeated part of the error of these first century false teachers by trying to make a distinction between the teaching of Jesus and the teaching of Paul--trying to separate the two as if Paul took Christianity and led it in a direction it was never intended to go. This is nonsense and Paul refutes this notion in these first two chapters of Galatians.
In this lesson we try to piece together the historical account given by Paul in the narrative of these verses with what Luke tells us in the book of Acts. It is not as easy as it sounds and some have gone so far as to claim the two writers contradict each other. That isn't the case. But neither is it the case that we can figure out precisely what took place when in a definitive way. What I have done is set forth a pretty good synopsis of how things likely took place based on what we have been given here and in Acts. Wiser men than I have disagreed.
What is important to take away from all this is the zeal with which Paul defends the gospel that he preached. The content of the message and maintaining its integrity are of paramount importance to Paul. Without the gospel we have no Christianity. I hope you will take the time to listen to this study with an open mind and open heart so that your faith will be strengthened and God will be glorified. Just click the link below to listen. God bless.
Click here: Galatians 2:1-10 - Contending For the Truth of the Gospel
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