Galatians 2 –
2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
6 But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
I have always been fascinated by this portion of the letter to the Galatians because it give us a glimpse into the mind of Paul and also the workings of the early church and the conflicts and difficulties that it had. Tow things stand out as noteworthy.
1. Paul received his call by direct revelation from Christ. He was called by Jesus immediately just like the other Apostles, but he was never with the 12. Yet he is willing to have that call evaluated. He is actually asking them if he is doing the right thing. If Paul can be evaluated by others why can’t some of us in the clergy?
2. It seems to me that here the work of the church pretty easily and comprehensively explained – preach the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles and remember the poor. Why make it anymore complicated than that?
