Galatians 2:13 - And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
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What does "Galatians 2:13" mean?
Galatians 2:13 is a very important verse in understanding the conflict Paul was addressing in his letter to the Galatians. Here's a breakdown of what it means, its context, and why it's significant:
Context:
The Setting: Paul is recounting a time when he visited Antioch. Jewish Christians from Jerusalem (likely associated with James, the brother of Jesus) came to Antioch.
The Problem: Before these visitors arrived, Peter (Cephas) was eating with Gentile Christians. This was a sign of fellowship and acceptance of Gentiles as equal members of the Christian community, without requiring them to adhere to Jewish dietary laws or customs.
The Shift: When the Jewish Christians from Jerusalem arrived, Peter, out of fear of offending them, stopped eating with the Gentiles. This was a major change in behavior.
Meaning of Galatians 2:13:
"And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy..." This means that other Jewish Christians who were in Antioch followed Peter's example. They, too, withdrew from fellowship meals with the Gentile Christians. This was because of the pressure from the Jewish Christians who arrived from Jerusalem.
"...so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy." This is the most shocking part. Barnabas was a close companion of Paul, known for his encouragement and inclusiveness. Barnabas's shift is seen as a significant failure because:
Barnabas's Reputation: Barnabas was highly respected and seen as a bridge-builder. His actions would have carried significant weight.
Impact on Gentile Believers: This would have caused profound hurt and division.
Undermining the Gospel: It suggested that Gentile Christians were second-class believers and had to become more Jewish to be fully accepted by God.
"Hypocrisy" (Greek: hypokrisis)
This word in Greek means "acting a part," "pretending," or "insincerity." Peter and the other Jewish Christians were acting as if the Gentiles were not fully acceptable believers, even though they knew that Christ had broken down the dividing wall of hostility.
They were, in effect, pretending to uphold Jewish customs for the sake of appeasing the visitors from Jerusalem, while their previous behavior showed they knew these customs were no longer barriers to fellowship.
Why This is Significant:
1. The Core Issue: The passage highlights the central conflict in Galatians: Is salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, or is it by faith plus adherence to Jewish law (specifically circumcision and dietary laws)?
2. The Gospel at Stake: Paul saw this as a serious threat to the gospel itself. If Gentiles had to become Jewish to be truly saved, it meant that Christ's sacrifice was not sufficient, and the law was still necessary.
3. Division: The hypocrisy was creating a deep division within the Christian community.
4. Paul's Rebuke: This incident is why Paul publicly rebuked Peter (Galatians 2:11-14). Paul recognized that Peter's actions, regardless of his intentions, had far-reaching consequences and needed to be addressed directly. Paul's rebuke was for the sake of the truth of the gospel and for the unity of the church.
In essence, Galatians 2:13 describes a situation where fear of man (specifically, fear of offending the Jewish Christians from Jerusalem) led to a compromise of the truth of the gospel and a division within the Christian community. It illustrates the dangers of hypocrisy and the importance of standing firm on the truth of salvation by grace through faith alone.
Galatians 2:13 - And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
What does "Galatians 2:13" mean?
Galatians 2:13 is a very important verse in understanding the conflict Paul was addressing in his letter to the Galatians. Here's a breakdown of what it means, its context, and why it's significant:
Context:
The Setting: Paul is recounting a time when he visited Antioch. Jewish Christians from Jerusalem (likely associated with James, the brother of Jesus) came to Antioch.
The Problem: Before these visitors arrived, Peter (Cephas) was eating with Gentile Christians. This was a sign of fellowship and acceptance of Gentiles as equal members of the Christian community, without requiring them to adhere to Jewish dietary laws or customs.
The Shift: When the Jewish Christians from Jerusalem arrived, Peter, out of fear of offending them, stopped eating with the Gentiles. This was a major change in behavior.
Meaning of Galatians 2:13:
"And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy..." This means that other Jewish Christians who were in Antioch followed Peter's example. They, too, withdrew from fellowship meals with the Gentile Christians. This was because of the pressure from the Jewish Christians who arrived from Jerusalem.
"...so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy." This is the most shocking part. Barnabas was a close companion of Paul, known for his encouragement and inclusiveness. Barnabas's shift is seen as a significant failure because:
Barnabas's Reputation: Barnabas was highly respected and seen as a bridge-builder. His actions would have carried significant weight.
Impact on Gentile Believers: This would have caused profound hurt and division.
Undermining the Gospel: It suggested that Gentile Christians were second-class believers and had to become more Jewish to be fully accepted by God.
"Hypocrisy" (Greek: hypokrisis)
This word in Greek means "acting a part," "pretending," or "insincerity." Peter and the other Jewish Christians were acting as if the Gentiles were not fully acceptable believers, even though they knew that Christ had broken down the dividing wall of hostility.
They were, in effect, pretending to uphold Jewish customs for the sake of appeasing the visitors from Jerusalem, while their previous behavior showed they knew these customs were no longer barriers to fellowship.
Why This is Significant:
1. The Core Issue: The passage highlights the central conflict in Galatians: Is salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, or is it by faith plus adherence to Jewish law (specifically circumcision and dietary laws)?
2. The Gospel at Stake: Paul saw this as a serious threat to the gospel itself. If Gentiles had to become Jewish to be truly saved, it meant that Christ's sacrifice was not sufficient, and the law was still necessary.
3. Division: The hypocrisy was creating a deep division within the Christian community.
4. Paul's Rebuke: This incident is why Paul publicly rebuked Peter (Galatians 2:11-14). Paul recognized that Peter's actions, regardless of his intentions, had far-reaching consequences and needed to be addressed directly. Paul's rebuke was for the sake of the truth of the gospel and for the unity of the church.
In essence, Galatians 2:13 describes a situation where fear of man (specifically, fear of offending the Jewish Christians from Jerusalem) led to a compromise of the truth of the gospel and a division within the Christian community. It illustrates the dangers of hypocrisy and the importance of standing firm on the truth of salvation by grace through faith alone.