11 But, when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was blameworthy. 12 Before certain men came from James,[e] he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came he began to draw back and separate himself, fearing those of the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews played the hypocrite with him as well, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.[f] 14 So when I saw that they were not walking straight according to the truth of the Gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all: “If you, being a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, why do you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? 15 We natural Jews (and not ‘Gentile sinners’),[g] 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, we ourselves have believed into Christ Jesus, so as to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law; because no one will be justified by works of law.[h] 17 But if[i] while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves were discovered to be sinners, then is Christ a minister of sin? Of course not!
18 “Now if I rebuild the things that I destroyed, I acknowledge that I am a transgressor.[j] 19 For through the law I died to the law in order to live to God.[k] 20 I have been crucified with Christ, so it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; what I now live in this body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself in my place.[l] 21 I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”[m]
<- Galatians 1Galatians 3 ->-
a This event is described in more detail in Acts chapter 15, where verse 3 says they were “sent on their way by the church”. Here Paul says he went “on the basis of a revelation”—I suppose he is referring mainly to the content of what he set before the apostles and elders. I gather that Paul and Barnabas had a closed session with James, Peter and John before going to the whole assembly.
b Who was responsible for the smuggling? And in whose service were they, really, even though they were evidently part of the Christian community?
c Literally, ‘circumcised’.
d The early Church did not ignore the physical needs of the poor.
e Note that in verse 9 James is listed before Peter and John, and in Acts 15:13 it is James who gives the verdict. James became the boss in Jerusalem, and I gather from what is recorded in Acts 21:18-25 that he was sliding back toward Judaism.
f That even Barnabas went along shook Paul up; the situation had gotten out of hand. Someone had to take a stand.
g My impression is that Paul is being a little sarcastic here, since the Jews liked to think that they were better than the Gentiles.
h This point is so important that Paul says it three times!
i We have here what in Greek grammar is called a ‘condition of fact’—the protasis is presented as being true—so that often ‘if’ should be ‘since’. By using ‘we’, Paul is associating himself with Peter and the others as a sinner (a nice touch), but they are already Christians, so he goes on to reject the notion that Christ could be viewed as an accomplice to their sin.
j Whereas he had once tried to destroy the Church, he is now building it, which amounts to recognizing that he had been wrong before, a transgressor.
k He thought he was serving God before, persecuting the Church in his zeal for the law. But ‘the law’ crucified Christ, and in declaring allegiance to the crucified Christ he died to the law, so that he could really live for God. Galatians 4:4 says that the Son was “born under law”.
l A tremendous statement, and when we allow it to function in our lives it is an equally tremendous truth! Those who try to live the Christian life in their own strength generally make a poor job of it; when I allow Christ to live His life through me He makes a good job of it (to the extent that I stay out of the way).
m This is a very serious statement! Anyone who can save himself does not need Christ's sacrifice.