Galatians Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this - PDF document

9/19/2012 Galatians “Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.” Galatians 2:1-5 Galatians “As for those who seemed to be important--whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance--those men added nothing to my message. On the contrary , they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 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. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” Galatians 2: 6-10 1

9/19/2012 Galatians F Galatians A Companionship that was rich • A Commission re-affirmed • A Compassion that was real • 2

9/19/2012 Galatians A Companionship that was rich - Barnabas. Acts.4. 36 - Joseph a Levite from Cyprus sold land and gave the money to the Apostles who called him Barnabas – son of encouragement. Acts. 9.27 - Barnabas introduced Saul(Paul) to the Disciples when everyone is scared of him and tells of his Damascus road experience. Acts.11.22 - After the dispersion through persecution, the Jerusalem church send Barnabas to Antioch ‘He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith and a great number were brought to the Lord’. Acts.11.25 - Barnabas goes to Tarsus to seek Saul (Paul) (150 miles by road), they return and stay a year in Antioch teaching and preaching. Acts.13.1ff. - Told by the Holy Spirit the Antioch church leaders send Barnabas and Paul out on their first missionary journey to ‘Galatia’ via Cyprus. Acts.13.13 onwards - Luke now refers to Paul not Saul and refers to him first from which point we assume he takes the lead. Acts.15.12 - The order is reversed again presumably because all the leaders would know Barnabas rather than Paul. Galatians A Companionship that was rich - Titus. Titus 1.4. - Paul calls him ‘my true son in the faith’. Titus 1.5 - Paul leaves Titus to oversee the churches in Crete. 2 Cor.8.16ff - as Paul’s representative to the Corinthians in the year preceding the writing of 2 Corinthians with the special commission to organise the collection scheme there. 2 Cor.8.16. - He has a love for the Corinthians. 2 Cor.12.18 - A man of integrity. Eusebius the historian records Titus as staying on in Crete as ‘Bishop’ to old age. 3

9/19/2012 Galatians A Commission re-affirmed Gal.2.2. - I set before ‘them’ the gospel I preached among the Gentiles. Gal.2.3. - Yet not even Titus was compelled to be circumcised. Gal.2.7. - They saw I had been entrusted with the gospel… Gal2.9. - James, Peter and John gave the ‘right hand of fellowship’ Galatians A Compassion that was real Gal.2.10. - Apostles asked that they remember the poor. Gal.2.10. - ‘which we were eager to do’ eager ; from the Greek: “spoudazo” (spoo-dad-zoe) Greek meaning: “to exert oneself, make every effort, give diligence, be zealous”. Combines thinking & acting. It covers inception, action and follow-through See also: - Isaiah 58.6-14., Job. 29.7-17., James. 1.27., 4

9/19/2012 Galatians Our Challenge for today: Do we value companionship, am I a good companion? • Do I need re-affirmation or re-assurance as to my mission? • Have I a concern for the poor, what am I/we doing about it? • Bono says: ‘To me, faith in Jesus Christ that is not aligned • with social justice, that is not aligned with the poor – it’s nothing’. Do you agree? 5