Galatians 2

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those l who seemed influential) the gospel that m I proclaim among the Gentiles, n in order to make sure I was not running or had not o run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, p was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 q Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in - who r slipped in to spy out s our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, t so that they might bring us into slavery - 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that u the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those v who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; w God shows no partiality) - those, I say, who seemed influential x added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been y entrusted with z the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, v who seemed to be a pillars, perceived the b grace that was given to me, they c gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, d the very thing I was eager to do.

Paul Opposes Peter

11 But e when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him f to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, g he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing h the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their i conduct was not in step with j the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas k before them all, "If you, though a Jew, l live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?"

Justified by Faith

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not m Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that n a person is not justified 1 by works of the law o but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, p because by works of the law no one will be justified.

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found q to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I r died to the law, so that I might s live to God. 20 I have been t crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives u in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, v who loved me and w gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for x if righteousness 2 were through the law, y then Christ died for no purpose.

  1. Cross References
    Galatians 2:6
    And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) - those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.
    Galatians 2:9
    And when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
  2. Cross References
    1 Timothy 3:16
    Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
  3. Cross References
    Galatians 4:11
    I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
    1 Thessalonians 3:5
    For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
  4. Cross References
    Philippians 2:16
    Holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
  5. Cross References
    Acts 16:3
    Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
  6. Cross References
    Acts 15:24
    Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions.
    2 Corinthians 11:26
    On frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers.
    Galatians 5:12
    I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
  7. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:1
    But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
    Jude 1:4
    For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
  8. Cross References
    Galatians 5:1
    For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
  9. Cross References
    Galatians 4:3
    In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.
    Galatians 4:9
    But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
    Galatians 4:24 - 25
    Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.
    2 Corinthians 11:20
    For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.
    Romans 8:15
    For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!
  10. Cross References
    Galatians 2:14
    But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?
    Galatians 4:16
    Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
    Galatians 5:7
    You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
    Titus 1:14
    Not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
    2 John 1:1
    The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth.
  11. Cross References
    Galatians 2:2
    I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.
    Galatians 2:9
    And when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
    Galatians 6:3
    For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
    Acts 5:36
    For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
    1 Corinthians 3:7
    So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
  12. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 10:17
    For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
  13. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:5
    Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.
    2 Corinthians 12:11
    I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
  14. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:4
    But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
    1 Timothy 1:11
    In accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
    1 Corinthians 9:17
    For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.
  15. Cross References
    Galatians 1:16
    Was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.
    Acts 9:15
    But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
  16. Cross References
    Galatians 2:6
    And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) - those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.
  17. Cross References
    Jeremiah 1:18
    And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
    Revelation 3:12
    The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
  18. Cross References
    Romans 1:5
    Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.
  19. Cross References
    2 Peter 3:15
    And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him.
  20. Cross References
    Acts 24:17
    Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
  21. Cross References
    Acts 15:1
    But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.
    Acts 15:35
    But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
  22. Cross References
    Job 21:31
    Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?
  23. Cross References
    Acts 11:3
    "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them."
    Galatians 2:14
    But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?
    Acts 10:28
    And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.
    Luke 15:2
    And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them.
  24. Cross References
    Acts 11:2
    So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying.
  25. Cross References
    Hebrews 12:13
    And make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
  26. Cross References
    Galatians 2:5
    To them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
  27. Cross References
    1 Timothy 5:20
    As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
  28. Cross References
    Galatians 2:12
    For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.
  29. Cross References
    Galatians 2:17
    But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!
    Ephesians 2:3
    Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
    Ephesians 2:12
    Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
  30. Cross References
    Galatians 3:11
    Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith.
    Acts 13:39
    And by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
  31. Cross References
    Romans 9:30
    What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith.
  32. Cross References
    Romans 3:20
    For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
    Psalms 143:2
    Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.
  33. Cross References
    Galatians 2:15
    We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners.
  34. Cross References
    Romans 6:2
    By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
    Romans 7:4
    Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
  35. Cross References
    Luke 20:38
    Now he is not God of the dead, but of the livin...
    Romans 6:11
    So you also must consider yourselves dead to si...
    Romans 14:7 - 8
    For none of us lives to himself, and none of us...
    2 Corinthians 5:15
    And he died for all, that those who live might ...
    1 Thessalonians 5:10
    Who died for us so that whether we are awake or...
    Hebrews 9:14
    How much more will the blood of Christ, who thr...
    1 Peter 4:2
    So as to live for the rest of the time in the f...
  36. Cross References
    Galatians 5:24
    And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
    Galatians 6:14
    But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
    Romans 6:6
    We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
  37. Cross References
    John 17:23
    I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
  38. Cross References
    Romans 8:37
    No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
  39. Cross References
    Galatians 1:4
    Who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.
  40. Cross References
    Galatians 3:21
    Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
    Hebrews 7:11
    Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
  41. Cross References
    Galatians 5:4
    You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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