Galatians chapter 2 reveals something interesting that happened between Paul and Peter. The scripture says that Paul "opposed him to his face." Paul was preaching at a church in Antioch along with Barnabas and a few others. Peter had come to visit them and had stayed a few days. It was during these few days that Paul had a problem with, what many church leaders consider, the leading Apostle Peter. Since Antioch was a gentile city, the church also was predominantly gentile. Peter was eating and socializing with them and had accepted them as brothers in Christ and Paul was examining Peter pretty closely it would seem like.
The Jewish community separated themselves from everyone else. They didn't eat with gentiles or even use the same utensils. It was forbidden in Jewish culture to socialize in such a way as Paul seen Peter doing. Recorded in Galatians, here was Peter, fellowshipping with the gentile community in a way that was frowned upon by Jewish society. Peter never had an issue with how he was fellowshipping or presenting himself to his gentile brothers until a few men, purported to come from James, and inquire of the incident. It was at this point Peter suddenly began to withdraw himself from the group. Now Peter seemed more concerned with his reputation and what it looked like to his fellow Jews. This is the problem that Paul had with Peter. This is why Paul calls out Peter in the form of personal hypocrisy because the Apostles knew what the Judaizers taught was wrong!
Galatians 2:12-13 "For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews disembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation." In verse 11 Paul says that he "withstood him"(Peter), to the face. Gentile Christians were not obligated to observe the law. Paul makes a point that by Peter "dissembled" or withdrawing, it also caused other Christians(Barnabas) to separate themselves from gentile Christians. The hypocrisy that Paul calls out is that Peter and the others really believed it was ok to eat and fellowship with gentiles, but acted as though these convictions were not theirs.
Galatians 2:14 "But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, if thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the gentiles to live as do the Jews?" Paul is simply saying that the Gospel teaches that a person is saved by grace and not by law. Therefore he is not obligated as a Christian to live under the law.
The way Paul corrects his brother was stern, yet done out of love. When a Christian witnesses a brother or sister doing something wrong, it is our duty to confront that person in a loving manner but also firm in our faith, to teach and correct them. Peter was seen as the leader of the Apostles, ye Paul had the courage to stand firm and speak out to his brother. Unfortunately many Christians seem to tolerate or be tolerable to situations that is contrary to the Word of God. Paul says in verse 14 that he seen they "walked not uprightly" according to scripture. He confronts this issue and teaches them to walk or live according to Gospel Truth.
Peter was no longer living according to Jewish culture since back in the Book of Acts chapter 10. This was at Cornelius' home. It would seem as though Peter was leaning more toward living outside Jewish customs as opposed to living in it. But Paul pointed out that Peter was wrong for compelling "the gentiles to live as do the Jews." Peter wasn't completely living honestly with the truth of the Gospel therefore altering Christians perception of truth by his behavior. Paul approaches this situation as he had written in 1 Timothy 5:20, "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." Christians should read and study over how will Paul handled the situation with Peter, Barnabas, and others at Antioch in the Book of Galatians. Paul kept firing away in Galatians 2:16 in trying to teach justification is not of the law. To be justified is to be accounted by God as acceptable to Him only by the faith in Jesus Christ.
The Jewish community separated themselves from everyone else. They didn't eat with gentiles or even use the same utensils. It was forbidden in Jewish culture to socialize in such a way as Paul seen Peter doing. Recorded in Galatians, here was Peter, fellowshipping with the gentile community in a way that was frowned upon by Jewish society. Peter never had an issue with how he was fellowshipping or presenting himself to his gentile brothers until a few men, purported to come from James, and inquire of the incident. It was at this point Peter suddenly began to withdraw himself from the group. Now Peter seemed more concerned with his reputation and what it looked like to his fellow Jews. This is the problem that Paul had with Peter. This is why Paul calls out Peter in the form of personal hypocrisy because the Apostles knew what the Judaizers taught was wrong!
Galatians 2:12-13 "For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews disembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation." In verse 11 Paul says that he "withstood him"(Peter), to the face. Gentile Christians were not obligated to observe the law. Paul makes a point that by Peter "dissembled" or withdrawing, it also caused other Christians(Barnabas) to separate themselves from gentile Christians. The hypocrisy that Paul calls out is that Peter and the others really believed it was ok to eat and fellowship with gentiles, but acted as though these convictions were not theirs.
Galatians 2:14 "But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, if thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the gentiles to live as do the Jews?" Paul is simply saying that the Gospel teaches that a person is saved by grace and not by law. Therefore he is not obligated as a Christian to live under the law.
The way Paul corrects his brother was stern, yet done out of love. When a Christian witnesses a brother or sister doing something wrong, it is our duty to confront that person in a loving manner but also firm in our faith, to teach and correct them. Peter was seen as the leader of the Apostles, ye Paul had the courage to stand firm and speak out to his brother. Unfortunately many Christians seem to tolerate or be tolerable to situations that is contrary to the Word of God. Paul says in verse 14 that he seen they "walked not uprightly" according to scripture. He confronts this issue and teaches them to walk or live according to Gospel Truth.
Peter was no longer living according to Jewish culture since back in the Book of Acts chapter 10. This was at Cornelius' home. It would seem as though Peter was leaning more toward living outside Jewish customs as opposed to living in it. But Paul pointed out that Peter was wrong for compelling "the gentiles to live as do the Jews." Peter wasn't completely living honestly with the truth of the Gospel therefore altering Christians perception of truth by his behavior. Paul approaches this situation as he had written in 1 Timothy 5:20, "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." Christians should read and study over how will Paul handled the situation with Peter, Barnabas, and others at Antioch in the Book of Galatians. Paul kept firing away in Galatians 2:16 in trying to teach justification is not of the law. To be justified is to be accounted by God as acceptable to Him only by the faith in Jesus Christ.
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