ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Galatians 2

Gal. 2:1 after fourteen years. Could refer to an additional 14 years after the three years mentioned in 1:18. The 14 years could also start from Paul’s conversion and include those three. The latter seems slightly more probable, placing this visit around a.d. 47. It probably corresponds to Acts 11:29–30 (see note on Acts 11:27–30).

Gal. 2:2 Those who seemed influential probably includes James, Peter, and John (see v. 9).

Gal. 2:3–4 The Jerusalem apostles agreed that Titus, a Gentile, did not need to be circumcised. Thus, says Paul, they agreed no Gentile needed to be circumcised. But some false brothers continued to disagree. (On circumcision, see Acts 15:1–35; Rom. 2:25–29; 4:9–16; Gal. 5:2–12; 6:12–15.)

Gal. 2:7–8 As an apostle, Paul was not inferior to Peter: Paul was assigned to evangelize the uncircumcised (Gentiles), while Peter was sent to the circumcised (Jews). Therefore the Galatians should not consider themselves inferior to any other believers.

Gal. 2:9 pillars. Peter, James, and John were clearly leaders in the early church. Significantly, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and Paul. This showed that they approved of the gospel Paul preached and of his ministry to the Gentiles.

Gal. 2:10 the poor. This probably refers mainly to poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Paul led an effort to help them financially (see Rom. 15:25–26; 1 Cor. 16:1–3; 2 Corinthians 8–9).

Gal. 2:11–21 Paul was not a people-pleaser (1:10). His confrontation with Peter proves this.

Gal. 2:11–12 The situation behind this passage is likely that the men who came from James (from the Jerusalem church) encouraged Jewish Christians to eat separately and follow kosher dietary laws. Peter decided to go along with this, perhaps not realizing that his example would make the Gentile Christians feel like second-class Christians.

Gal. 2:12 Although it was allowed by Scripture, eating with the Gentiles would have broken Jewish dietary traditions. The circumcision party required keeping the Mosaic covenant law regarding circumcision, food, and special days.

Gal. 2:14 force the Gentiles to live like Jews. Peter was guilty of hypocrisy (v. 13). He had not been observing food laws previously. Now he was requiring Gentile Christians to observe Jewish food laws in order to eat with him.

Gal. 2:16 “Justified” means “counted righteous” or “declared righteous” by God (see esv footnote). If people obeyed all of God’s perfect moral standards, they could be justified by their own merits. But Paul says that this is impossible for anyone to do (see Romans 1–2). Works of the law means any human effort to be justified by God by obeying a moral law. We also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ implies that justification is the result of saving faith. and not by works of the law. No human effort or merit can be added to faith as a basis for justification (see Acts 13:39; Gal. 3:10–14; Heb. 10:1–14). On justification, see also notes on Rom. 4:25; Phil. 3:9; James 2:21.

Gal. 2:18 I would prove myself to be a transgressor. Ironically, the one who is most clearly seen to be a sinner is not the one outside of the law (the Gentile), but the one who is under the law.

Gal. 2:19 through the law. The law taught Paul that he could not be saved by works. Paul has died to the law. He no longer tries to gain justification by obeying the law. so that I might live to God. Paul has gained God’s acceptance through justification in Christ. He has an amazing new freedom to live a life devoted to God.

Gal. 2:20 It is no longer I who live does not mean that Paul has no personality of his own. It means that he no longer controls his own life. Rather, Christ who lives in me now directs and empowers all that he does. the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. As Paul trusts Christ moment by moment, Christ works in and through him in all he does. who loved me and gave himself for me. The crucifixion is a personal expression of Christ’s love for people as individuals.

Gal. 2:21 Christ’s death would have been pointless if righteousness were through the law. Then people could earn justification by their obedience. But they can never do this. Sin is so serious that only the substitutionary, atoning death of God’s Son can deal with the problem.