Our Wednesday Evening Adult Bible Study is currently going through the book of Galatians. The main theme of this book is justification by faith apart from works of the law. However, as with any book in the Bible, there are numerous side lessons or lessons within lessons that are very practical for Christians today. We find one of these in Galatians 2:2.
Galatians 2:2 (NIV) I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.
The idea is that Paul went to Jerusalem by the express direction of God(in response to a revelation). He did not go because any man called him to come; it was because God told him to go.
At this time, there was a contention rising over the place of Gentiles in the church. God used Peter to welcome Gentiles into the church in Acts 10. But some Christians from a Judean background said that Gentiles could indeed be saved, but only if they brought themselves under the Law of Moses. Their idea was that salvation in Jesus was only for the Judean people, and Gentiles had to become like them before they could become Christians.
Knowing this contention was present, the leaders of the church in Jerusalem wanted to know what Paul taught. When he visited Jerusalem it was the perfect time to tell them, so Paul presented to them the gospel that he preached among the Gentiles.
This verse says that Paul met privately with those esteemed as leaders Paul knew he had the true gospel; but he didn’t know how everyone of reputation in Jerusalem would receive it. Perhaps some of the apostles themselves were wrong on this point, and needed to be corrected. But if there was any confrontation to be done, Paul did it privately to those who were of reputation. He did the best he could to not publicly embarrass those esteemed as leaders in the church at Jerusalem. This is another smaller lesson within the bigger lesson. This was remarkable love and sensitivity on Paul’s part. It would have been easy for Paul to say, “I’m right and anyone who disagrees with me is wrong, and I can’t wait to confront them publicly.” But he didn’t. He knew that being right didn’t give him the privilege of being disrespectful. 1 Peter 2:17 reminds us to show proper respect to everyone and we see Paul living out this principle in Galatians 2.