Galatians 2:2
The gospel set before the apostles
- The gospel’s word εὐαγγέλιον euangelion · gospel
Original
Translations
I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.
And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
and I went up by revelation, and submitted the good news to them that I preach among the nations, and privately to those esteemed, lest I ran or might run in vain;
계시를 인하여 올라가 내가 이방 가운데서 전파하는 복음을 저희에게 제출하되 유명한 자들에게 사사로이 한 것은 내가 달음질하는 것이나 달음질한 것이 헛되지 않게 하려 함이라
내가 계시로 말미암아 올라가 내가 이방인들 가운데서 선포하는 그 복음을 그들에게 전달하되 명성 있는 자들에게는 개인적으로 하였으니 이것은 어찌하든지 내가 달음질하는 것이나 달음질한 것이 헛되지 아니하게 하려 함이라.
Commentaries
Matthew Henry on Gal 2:1-10 as a whole
Observe the apostle's faithfulness in giving a full account of the doctrine he had preached among the Gentiles, and was still resolved to preach, that of Christianity, free from all mixture of Judaism. This doctrine would be ungrateful to many, yet he was not afraid to own it. …
Read the whole commentary →Wesley Gal 2:2
I went up - Not by any command from them, but by an express revelation from God. And laid before them - The chief of the church in Jerusalem. The gospel which I preach among the gentiles - Acts 15:4, touching justification by faith alone; not that they might confirm me therein,…
Read the whole commentary →
Note
Fourteen years later Paul went up to Jerusalem again, with Barnabas, and took Titus, a Greek, along (Galatians 2:1, Galatians 2:3). He went "in response to a revelation," not because he was summoned, and there he "set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles."
Which visit in Acts this was is debated. Wesley takes it as the journey to the council of Acts 15 Wesley; others see the famine-relief visit, when the believers in Antioch sent their gifts to Judea "with Barnabas and Saul" (Acts 11:29–30). Either way, the question was the one Acts records: whether Gentiles must be circumcised to be saved (Acts 15:1).
The gospel here is the noun , and "preach" is kērussō, the herald's verb. It is present: the gospel "that I preach," the one Paul had been preaching all those years and did not adjust for Jerusalem. "Set before" is anethemēn, to lay a matter out for others to weigh. Luke uses it when Festus "laid out Paul's case before the king" (Acts 25:14).
The KJV has "communicated unto them," the LSV "submitted the good news to them," the BSB "set before them." "Submitted" sounds like asking for approval, "communicated" like informing. The Greek lies between. Paul laid his gospel open to their judgment; yet he has already said that it was not from man (1:11–12), and the meeting ended with the leaders giving him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship (Galatians 2:9). Wesley names both the content and the purpose. The gospel Paul set out was the one "touching justification by faith alone," and he set it out "not that they might confirm me therein, but that I might remove prejudice from them" Wesley. He spoke first in private, Wesley adds, "Speaking to them one by one" Wesley.
What, then, was his fear "that I was running or had already run in vain"? Not doubt about his message (1:8). Wesley reads it as a fear "Lest I should lose the fruit either of my present or past labours" Wesley, since a break with Jerusalem could have hindered the work among the Gentiles. Matthew Henry agrees: "His care was, lest the success of his past labours should be lessened, or his future usefulness be hindered" Matthew Henry. Wesley also loves the picture in the verb: "The word run beautifully expresses the swift progress of the gospel" Wesley.
Certainty was no reason to avoid fellowship. In this verse Paul will not change the gospel, and he will not run alone.