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Fighting For Freedom Part I
Third Sermon on Galatians
Background Passage Galatians Chapter 2
Focal Passage Galatians 2:1-10
 

Galatians 2:1 through Galatians 2:10 (KJV)
1Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took 
Titus with me also. 2And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them 
that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were 
of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3But neither 
Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4And 
that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy 
out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into 
bondage: 5To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the 
truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6But of these who seemed to be 
somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no 
man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to 
me: 7But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was 
committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8(For he 
that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the 
same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 9And when James, Cephas, and John, 
who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave 
to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the 
heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10Only they would that we should 
remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
 
A man's worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes. 
Thoman Huxley, "Address on University Education," Collected Essays, 1902, III, 
236 
 
These are certainly words that have the ring of truth behind them.  Freedom is a 
wonderful thing to have, but one must do well to remember that with any freedom 
comes a price.
 
No man in this world attains to freedom from any slavery except by entrance into 
some higher servitude. There is no such thing as an entirely free man 
conceivable. 
Phillips Brooks (1835- 1893), Perennials 
 
Paul went to the church at Jerusalem to fight for Christian freedom.  Throughout 
chapter one of the book of Galatians we saw Paul clearly establishing his 
freedom from the established church at Jerusalem.  Now we see him going before 
the leadership of the church to fight for the right of Christians (specifically 
gentiles) to be free from the strictures of Jewish ceremonial law.  
 
While chapter 2 continues Paul’s defense of his apostolic authority and the 
gospel he preached, he focused not on the source of his message but on its 
content. Further, whereas in chapter 1 he emphasized his independence from the 
other apostles, he now demonstrated that there was a basic unity between himself 
and them.
 
There is much disagreement about when this visit to Jerusalem recorded in 
Chapter 2 took place. The Book of Acts mentions five Jerusalem visits made by 
Paul after his conversion: (1) the visit after he left Damascus (Acts 9:26-30; 
Gal. 1:18-20); (2) the famine visit (Acts 11:27-30); (3) the visit to attend the 
Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-30); (4) the visit at the end of the second 
missionary journey (Acts 18:22); (5) the final visit which resulted in Paul’s 
Caesarean imprisonment (Acts 21:15-23:35).
 
The controversy stems from Paul’s writing in verse 1, “1Then fourteen years 
after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also”  
We have to discern where Paul is counting from to determine the fourteen years.  
Some scholars contend that he is referring to fourteen years after his 
conversion, and others believe he is referring to fourteen years after his first 
visit to Jerusalem.  
 
The two visits to Jerusalem that are possibilities are the famine visit in Acts 
11 and the Jerusalem Council visit of Acts 15.  
 
Title:   New Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Testament Volume 
 
 
The view that this visit was connected with the Jerusalem council, however, 
has some difficulty because it can be argued that Paul would have mentioned the 
decision of the council regarding the topic of circumcision, which was one of 
the 
main reasons he wrote to the Galatians. But in support of the view that this 
visit 
was the occasion of the council, it may be stated first that Paul had a desire 
to 
show the Galatians that his authority was independent of the other apostles—so 
the decision of the council was not to be taken into consideration by the 
Galatians when they were to obey his teaching. His authority was above that of a 

council, because he was an accredited apostle. Second, Paul was arguing his 
point on the grounds of principle rather than authoritative decisions. It would 
have been pointless for the Galatians to disregard one set of laws only to be 
bound by another. Third, the decree of the council of Jerusalem did not go as 
far 
as Paul did in this instance. All that was decided at Jerusalem was that the 
mosaic 
law would not be imposed on Gentiles, while Paul here asserts that the mosaic 
law has to be transcended. Finally, the Galatians were obeying the mosaic law of 

circumcision not merely as a means of salvation but as a means of furthering the 

perfection of their spiritual lives (3:3; 4:21). This view would have been 
supported by the Jerusalem council’s decree and thus be of no value to Paul in 
his presentation. Paul dealt with the Galatians much more directly, stating that 

Christ would be useless to them if they tried to be justified by the law 
 
 
Regardless of where you place the visit, we can still look at what took place in 
the visit.  In this passage we see Paul having a private consultation with the 
elders of the Jerusalem church, followed by a public discussion (perhaps with 
the entire Jerusalem Council), and ending with a personal commitment to continue 
the ministry.
 
Private Consultation (V 1-2)
 
Paul and Barnabas had been ministering among the Gentiles for quite some time, 
and their reputations had grown.  The body of believers from the Gentile lands 
was growing as well and many were saved.  It would appear however that many in 
the Jewish church were a bit upset that the new Gentile coverts were not 
following through with circumcision in order to become Jews.  Basically, what 
was being taught as we see in Acts 15:1 is that a person must first become a Jew 
before they can become a Christian.  

Acts 15:1 (KJV)
1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, 
Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
 
This was contrary to the message of grace that Paul had been preaching.  
Submitting to circumcision was in effect covenanting, or agreeing, to fully 
accept Mosaic law handed down for generations.  Paul however would have 
contended that our “circumcision” was a circumcision of the heart.
 
Colossians 2:8 through Colossians 2:11 (KJV)
8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the 
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9For 
in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10And ye are complete in 
him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11In whom also ye are 
circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of 
the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
 
If we are to accept that this meeting Paul is relating in Galatians 2 is the 
Jerusalem Council meeting of Acts 15 we then may see that Paul and Barnabas 
confronted the Judaizers about their false teachings.  This resulted in a 
spirited debate (or perhaps we might even say a heated argument) which cried out 
for resolution.  
 
Acts 15:2 (KJV)
2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with 
them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should 
go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
 
We see in our passage tonight where Paul desired a private meeting with “them 
which were of reputation,” to discuss what Paul was teaching.  Paul recognized 
that his ministry was in jeopardy because of the actions of emissaries (official 
or not) of the Jerusalem Church.  
 
Title:   IVP New Testament Commentary: Galatians 
Author:   Hansen, G. Walter 
 
Paul’s references to the original apostles as those who seemed to be leaders 
(v. 2), those who seemed to be important (v. 6) and those reputed to be pillars 
(v. 
9) do not indicate that he was rejecting their apostolic authority but that he 
was 
calling into question an exaggerated importance that had evidently been given to 

them in the early church, an importance that threatened to place their personal 
authority above the absolute authority of the truth of the gospel. As Holmberg 
notes, “According to Paul every apostle is subordinated to the Gospel and is 
authoritative because and insofar as he is a faithful preacher of this one and 
only 
Gospel—not because he knew the historical Jesus or has access to old and 
reliable traditions about him” (1978:29). 
 
Paul had a problem with someone within the fellowship.  We see that Paul did 
what was proper by discussing the situation.  The outcome of this meeting was 
victorious for Paul.  The apostles affirmed Paul’s teachings as being valid 
representations of the faith.  It wasn’t so much that Paul was unsure of his 
message, but rather that he wanted the leaders in Jerusalem to understand it and 
affirm it.
 
Public Discussion (V 2-5)
 
It would seem in verse 5 that the same Jews who were opposing him in Antioch had 
followed him to Jerusalem.  Paul and Barnabas made no effort to compromise with 
them, or to change their stance.  They continued to preach that there was only 
one way to salvation and that was through Christ in grace.  
 
An important point to remember is that it was Peter who spoke on behalf of the 
missionaries.  We will need to remember that as we see a different confrontation 
between Peter and Paul at a later date.
 

Acts 15:7 through Acts 15:11 (KJV)
7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men 
and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that 
the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8And 
God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, 
even as he did unto us; 9And put no difference between us and them, purifying 
their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the 
neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11But 
we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, 
even as they. 
 
The decisions that were made in the private group were made publicly before the 
multitude.  This is important because the whole crowd needed to see that the 
different “factions” of the church were working together rather than against 
each other.
 
In his early years, American landscape photographer Ansel
Adams studied piano and showed some talent. At one party,
however, as Adams played Chopin's F Major Nocturne he recalled
that "In some strange way my right had started off in F-sharp
major while my left had behaved well in F-major. I could not
bring them together. I went through the entire nocturne with the
hands separated by a half-step."
 
The next day a fellow guest gave Adams a no-nonsense review
of his performance: "You never missed a wrong note!" 
·        DailyWalk, May 14, 1992 
 
We too must remember the stand that Paul was taking.  Paul’s concern was for the 
truth of the Gospel, not the peace in the church.  He knew full well that his 
views were contentious among the brethren, but he correctly pointed out that 
truth took precedence over harmony.  Paul never missed a wrong note either!
 
People have always tried to insist upon being saved by faith in Christ PLUS 
something—Good works, the Ten Commandments, whatever—but that is not what Christ 
taught, and it isn’t what Paul taught.  
 
Personal Commitment  (v 6-10)
 
It was the hope of those who opposed Paul that he would have been “taken to 
task” by the Jerusalem church when he made his appearance there.  Paul makes it 
clear in verse 6 that he really didn’t care much about what the other apostles 
thought.
 
Galatians 2:6 (KJV)
6But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no 
matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat 
in conference added nothing to me:
 
It’s as if Paul is saying he didn’t need their affirmation, he had the 
affirmation of one who is greater.  All he really wanted them to do was to 
acknowledge the fruits of his labor. 
 
Not only did the assembly approve Paul’s Gospel, and oppose Paul’s enemies, but 
they encouraged Paul’s ministry and recognized publicly that God had committed 
the Gentile aspect of His work into Paul’s hands. They could add nothing to 
Paul’s message or ministry, and they dared not take anything away. There was 
agreement and unity: one Gospel would be preached to Jews and to Gentiles.
 
Paul was committed to evangelizing the Gentiles.  He took on this commitment and 
did his best to stick to it, even in the face of adversity.  
 
We see Paul giving meaning to his theological commitments by offering a personal 
commitment to take care of the poor in verses 9 & 10.  
 
 9And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the 
grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of 
fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 
10Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was 
forward to do.
Paul, along with the church, recognized that everyone had different jobs within 
the body, but the final mission was the same.
 
The Judaizers continued to dog Paul as he went from city to city spreading God’s 
word.  We will see next week as we look at the remainder of chapter 2 where they 
cause him grief once again.  There is little question that the Judaizers went to 
the churches of Galatia to sow their seeds of discord, and for this reason Paul 
had to write the letter we are now studying.
 
A fortune-teller studied the hand of a young man and said, “You will be poor and 
very unhappy until you are thirty-seven years old.”
The young man responded, “Well, after that, what will happen? Will I be rich and 
happy?”
The fortune-teller said, “No, you’ll still be poor, but you’ll be used to it 
after that.”
 
Paul never got used to false teachings in church.  Neither should we.
 

Rev. Charles Mims    
Copyright ©2000 by Claim The Victory Ministries
South Peninsula Baptist Church
Daytona Beach, FL