Galatians Journal: Chapter 2, verse 3

Galatians 2:3 “Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.”

Paul answers the question of whether his ministry was valid by pointing to the only Gentile in his entourage. The answer is conveyed in terms of the question of circumcision. The leaders at Jerusalem responded by NOT requiring Titus to comply with Jewish law. The phrase “who was with me” speaks to Titus as the embodiment of Paul’s ministry – a representative sample. It also emphasizes the constant theme of RELATIONSHIP in this book – Paul and Titus were close friends, and Paul recognized the work of God established in Titus’ life. Paul’s ministry stood validated by a RELATIONSHIP. Paul could have said to the Galatians that the leader of the church had recognized that circumcision was not necessary for salvation (which is pretty much how the results of the counsel are explained in Acts 15). But Paul focuses on the person, and the fruit of the salvation process – Titus is a life transformed. Again – it is the RELATIONSHIP that forms the foundation. It is Titus as a person that means the most to Paul.