Fighting for the freedom in Christ: (chap.2)
Paul accepted by Apostles: (2:1-10):
Paul was converted around AD 35. The 14-years he mentioned are probably after his conversion. He made his first trip to Jerusalem in 38 AD and this second trip probably in 49 AD. During this 14-years Paul had spent many years preparing for the ministry to which God had called him. This preparation would have included spending good time with the Lord, confessing before other Christians.
Often new Christians make mistakes, the moment they are converted, they launch into the ministry without spending before the Lord or learning from the qualified teachers and preparing themselves at the feet of the Lord. This time Paul took along with him Barnabas and Titus.
- Barnabas: The name Barnabas means “son of encouragement. Barnabas introduced Paul to the fellowship of the Jerusalem church and opened the way for him (Acts 9:26-28). When the Gospel came to the Gentiles in Antioch, it was Barnabas who was sent to encourage them in their faith (Acts 11:19-24). He helped Paul to minister in the church of Antioch and both worked together teaching and helping the poor (Acts. 11:27-30). He also travelled with Paul in the first missionary trip. He encouraged John Mark when he had dropped out of the ministry which caused displeasure to Paul. Later John Mark joined Paul and together had very fruitful ministry.
- Titus: Titus was a Greek Christian who worked with Paul and apparently was won to Christ through the apostle’s ministry (Titus 1:4). He was a “product” of the apostle’s ministry among the Gentiles. When Titus went with Paul to Jerusalem, Judaizers insisted that Titus should undergo circumcision which Paul vehemently objected. The apostles agreed that circumcision was unnecessary for Gentile believers. In later years, Titus assisted Paul by going to some of the most difficult churches especially to Corinthian church to help them solve their problems (2 Cor. 7; Titus 1:5).
Paul went to Jerusalem in response to the call given by God. He did not go because any man called him to come; it was because God told him to go. This trip to Jerusalem is most likely the one mentioned in (Acts 11:27-30), when Paul brought a gift from Christians in other cities to the Christians in Jerusalem who suffered under famine. When Paul was in Jerusalem at this time he assured the leaders there that he was obedient to God in his presentation of the gospel to the Gentiles.
- Problem of understanding Salvation: At this time, there was a problem arose in the church regarding the Gentile believers. God used Peter to welcome Gentiles into the church in (Acts 10). But some Christians from a Jewish background said that Gentiles could indeed be saved, if they made themselves Jews first and brought themselves under the Law of Moses. Their idea was that salvation in Jesus was only for the Jewish people, and Gentiles had to become Jews before they could become Christians. The believing Jews were encouraged in their wrong attitude by the false apostles. The result was that the people were up in arms against Paul and his doctrine.
Knowing this contention the leaders of the church in Jerusalem wanted to know what Paul taught. When he visited Jerusalem it was the perfect time to tell them, so Paul communicated to them the gospel privately to those who were of reputation. Paul knew he had the true gospel; but he didn’t know how everyone in Jerusalem would receive it. Perhaps some of the apostles themselves were wrong on this point, and needed to be corrected! But if there was any confrontation to be done, Paul did it privately to those who were of reputation. He did the best he could, not to publicly embarrass those who were of reputation in Jerusalem.
And the conference felt that circumcision had no bearing on Christ’s salvation.
For Paul, this wasn’t just an issue between the false brethren and Gentiles. It might be easy for Paul to say, “This doesn’t affect me. After all, I am a Jew and have been circumcised under the Law of Moses. I’ll let Titus or other Gentiles deal with this problem, because these false brethren have a problem with them, not me. But Paul realized that if the message of the gospel was compromised, it wasn’t just bondage for the Gentiles, but it was bondage for everyone who named the name of Jesus.
“We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you”(2:5). Paul remained steadfast. But Paul did it so that the truth of the gospel might continue with you (the Gentile Christians like those in Galatia).
If they had asked for it on the plea of brotherly love, Paul would not have denied them. But because they demanded it on the ground that it was necessary for salvation, Paul defied them and prevailed. Titus was not circumcised.” (Luther)