Galatians Journal: Chapter 2, verse 9

Galatians 2:9 “James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.”

First, Paul mentions James, Peter and John by name. He says they were “reputed to be pillars.” This sounds like he’s being at least a little disrespectful. But this would be out of character for Paul, as we discussed in the entry regarding Galatians 2:6. He is contrasting and connecting the concept of “reputation” with the view of “those who seemed important” – that is, the Pharisee types who were insisting on following the Jewish law and customs – in Galatians 2:6. What he is saying is that the Judiazers accepted James, Peter and John as “pillars.” He even lists James first, who was the leader of the Jerusalem church, a sort of backhanded way of saying the most “Jewish” of the apostles, the Lord’s own flesh and blood brother (James was technically Jesus’ half brother (he was Jesus younger brother, a son of Mary and Joseph) and thus a living example of the importance of ethnicity to these people) James was in Paul’s corner. The “pillars” of the church gave Paul and Barnabas (he mentions both again, remember, its RELATIONSHIPS that are important), the “right hand of fellowship.” This is an idiomatic phrase common to that time, this was more than a greeting or welcome – this was like getting the key to the city, or taking a picture shaking the President’s hand – its official recognition, like signing a treaty. This was done because the “pillars” recognized “the grace given” to Paul. The tangible, incontrovertible indicia of God’s work in Paul and among the Gentiles was the proof – what God was doing in and through Paul was real. The fruit was enough; the reality tipped the scales. This is still true today. The proof of changed lives, the reality of relationships established in the unity of the Holy Spirit, and the ministry of God in outreach to help the poor and needy (see verse 10 below) is the proof in our society that our unity is real, based on our relationship in Jesus, and NOT on ethnicity, tradition, nationality, denomination, or custom.

(We'll continue verse 9 next time).