Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Galatians 2

Gal 2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas

Act 15:1-2.

Titus

2Co 8:16, 23.

Gal 2:2 And 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.

by revelation

Act 16:9.

privately to them which were of reputation

Act 15:4.

run, in vain

Phl 2:16.

Gal 2:4 And 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:

false brethren

2Co 11:26; Jde 1:4.

liberty which we have in Christ Jesus

Gal 5:1, 13.

Gal 2:5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

gave place by subjection

Cf. Gal 2:11.

the truth of the gospel

Gal 2:14; 3:1.

Gal 2:6 But 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:

God accepteth no man's person [God shows no favoritism]

Act 10:34; Rom 2:11.

Gal 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

gospel of the uncircumcision [Gentiles] was committed unto me

Act 22:21; Rom 11:13.

gospel of the circumcision [Jews] was unto Peter

1Pe 1:1.

Gal 2:9 And 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.

James

Act 15:13.

grace

Grace (imparted). Eph 3:2-8. (Rom 6:1; 2Pe 3:18).

right hands of fellowship

Act 13:3.

heathen

Gentiles.

Gal 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

Peter was come to Antioch

Act 11:19-26; 15:1.

Gal 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

before that…he did eat with the Gentiles

Act 11:23.

when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself

Gen 12:11-13.

Gal 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

Barnabas

Act 15:37-39.

Gal 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

gospel

Gospel. Gal 3:8. (Gen 12:1-3; Rev 14:6.)

Gal 2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

We who are Jews by nature

Paul here quotes from his words to Peter when he withstood him at Antioch to show the Galatians that, whatever the legalists may have pretended, Peter and he were in perfect accord doctrinally. Paul appealed to the common belief of Peter and himself as a rebuke of Peter's inconsistent practice.

Jews

Phl 3:5.

sinners

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

justified

Justification. Gal 3:8, 11, 24. (Luk 18:14; Rom 3:28).

faith

Faith. Gal 3:6-7, 9, 11-12, 22-26. (Gen 3:20; Heb 11:39.)

Jesus Christ

Christ Jesus.

justified

Psa 143:2; Rom 3:20, 28.

not by the works of the law

Law (of Moses). Gal 2:15-16, 19, 21; 4:21-30. (Exo 19:1; Gal 3:1-29).

Gal 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

we

That is, "we" Jews. (See Rom 3:19-23). The passage might be thus paraphrased: If we Jews, in seeking to be justified by faith in Christ, take our places as mere sinners, like the Gentiles, is it therefore Christ who makes us sinners? By no means. It is by putting ourselves again under law after seeking justification through Christ, that we act as if we were still unjustified sinners, seeking to become righteous through law-works. (Cf. Gal 5:1-4.)

by Christ

Rom 8:1; Gal 5:6.

sinners

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

minister of sin

Rom 6:1.

Gal 2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

if I build again the things which I destroyed

Gal 5:2-4.

transgressor

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Gal 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

dead to the law

Rom 7:4.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

crucified with Christ

Gal 6:14; Col 2:11-12, 20.

I live

Rom 6:8-11; Col 3:1; Eph 2:5-6.

not I

Scofield Ephesians 4:24, note.

life

Life (eternal). Gal 6:8. (Mat 7:14; Rev 22:19.)

Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

grace

Grace (in salvation). Gal 5:4. (Rom 3:24; Scofield John 1:16, note.)

righteousness

Scofield Romans 10:10, note.

in vain

Gal 3:4; 5:2; cf. 1Co 15:17.