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Paul was a true apostle, but what about his message? Was Paul’s ‘God’s-grace-only’ gospel enough, or did it need to be somehow balanced?
In these verses Paul tells of a later visit to Jerusalem, fourteen years after his conversion, to show that the apostles fully endorsed his message. Paul went with Barnabas and Titus to bring a love gift to the church (see Acts 11:27–30). The gift was a public display of unity, a Gentile gift for suffering Jewish-background believers.
Paul was not there to get his message endorsed by ‘more senior’ apostles. He was convinced his ministry was from God, but he did want to make sure they were all on the same page, that their public unity was supported by private reality. So privately Paul arranged a little conference.
Paul laid out his message. Did the apostles fix, add to, or balance it in any way? The answer eventually comes in verse 6. First, Paul tells of an incident involving Titus in verses 3–5. While he was there the very issue of circumcision came up because some false brothers infiltrated the ranks and kicked up a fuss about Gentile Titus. The false teachers were strongly resisted and Titus was not circumcised. What was the bottom line as far as the apostles were concerned? They were fully with Paul, so he could say ‘they added nothing to my message’ (v. 6).
In verses 7–10 Paul makes this agreement even clearer. The apostles not only added nothing to the gospel Paul preached but also recognised him on a level with Peter. The leading apostles did give Paul something. What did they give Paul? It was not a lecture, nor a correction. They gave him a hearty handshake as he headed out to the Gentiles, leaving them to focus on the local Jews. Paul’s message of God’s grace was the gospel of all the apostles.
When the apostles heard Paul’s message about the grace of God, they were excited to stand with him in his ministry. In fact, they asked him for a favour – please don’t forget the poor. For the rest of his career, Paul was always concerned to bring gifts from Gentile churches to Jerusalem to show unity because there is one gospel and one church. It is a church built upon the gospel of God’s grace.
Reflection
How does the gospel of God’s grace stir you to give to others in need? Does the gospel motivate you to care for the poor? And for church unity?
Scripture
About this Plan
Paul wrote the book of Galatians to Christians who were tempted to add good works to the gospel. Although we might not want to admit it, adding to the gospel is a great temptation for us too. So be encouraged as Peter Mead takes us through these devotions, be reminded that Christ is everything, and that the gospel is all we need for our lives now in Jesus.
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