Gálatas 2
A.T. Robertson · Citado em PreceptAustin
Gálatas 2
Robertson says of Titus "his very presence was a challenge to the Judaizers, since he was a Greek Christian." Martin Luther - Paul chose two witnesses, Barnabas and Titus. Barnabas had been Paul’s preaching companion to the Gentiles. Barnabas was an eye-witness of the fact that the Holy Ghost had come upon the Gentiles in response to the simple preaching of faith in Jesus Christ. Barnabas stuck to Paul on this point, that it was not necessary for the Gentiles to be bothered with the Law as long as they believed in Christ. Titus was superintendent of the churches in Crete, having been placed in charge of the churches by Paul. Titus was a former Gentile. Taking....along (aorist active participle) (4838) (sumparalambano from sun/syn = together [speaks of intimacy] + paralambano = to take to, to join to oneself from para = alongside, beside + lambano = to take, receive) means to take along with oneself as a companion on a journey. This is the verb used in Acts 15:37-38+ of the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas about Mark. W E Vine comments that "taking along" is "one word in original, sumparalambanō, used elsewhere only of John Mark, Acts 12:25; 15:37, 38. Paul makes a difference (distinction) thus between Barnabas who went with him, and Titus whom he took with him. The younger man (Titus) was subordinate to the older men, an assistant and attendant, Acts 13:5, rather than a colleague." (Collected Writings) Sumparalambano - 4x in 3v - Acts 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark. Acts 15:37 Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. 38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. Galatians 2:1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. Sumparalambano - 2x in Septuagint (Lxx) - Ge 19:17, Job 1:4 Genesis 19:17 When they had brought them outside, one said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away (Lxx = sumparalambano - taken along with the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah). TITUS A TRUSTED AND BELOVED CO-WORKER Phil Newton explains that "At the heart of the Galatian controversy was the teaching that faith alone in Christ alone was not sufficient for salvation. A Gentile convert must also be circumcised in order to be saved. The Judaizers obviously claimed that this was the authoritative Gospel taught in Jerusalem. So just in case there was a question mark about the power of the Gospel to save those who were not circumcised, Paul took Titus along with him to Jerusalem. Teaching circumcision for salvation was not really an issue among Jewish converts because they were already circumcised. But now this addition of Gentile converts created a problem with those Jews who had superficially embraced the Gospel. They still clung to their circumcision and obedience to the ceremonial law as part of their righteousness before God." (Galatians 2:1-10 Affirming the Gospel Message) Titus - His name occurs 13x in 12v (below). You can discern a great deal about the character of the man Titus by scanning the following passages and this will help you understand why Paul took him to Jerusalem. As stated earlier the fact that Titus was an uncircumcised Gentile would also serve as a "test case" to validate that the Gospel message was faith in Jesus, not faith in Jesus plus anything (including circumcision). 2 Corinthians 2:13 I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother (BROTHER IN CHRIST); but taking my leave of them, I went on to Macedonia. 2 Corinthians 7:6 But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus.... 13 For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. ...14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth. 2 Corinthians 8:6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.... 16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus.... 23 As for Titus, he is my partner (koinonos) and fellow worker (sunergos) among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? Galatians 2:1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.... 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 2 Timothy 4:10+ for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Comment: These are Paul's last recorded words before he was martyred and we see that Titus persevered in the faith in contrast to men like Demas who deserted Paul and presumably the faith he had once professed. Titus 1:4+ To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you." (In short, Paul entrusted the churches in Crete to Titus!) TAKING TWO "SIMPATICOS" The definition of simpatico means having compatible temperaments and pleasing qualities enabling the individuals to get along and show mutual understanding to one another. When you are going into what could be a "lion's den" (filled with "Judaizers!") you should consider taking along individuals who are "simpatico!" Jack Arnold observes that "Paul took two companions with him for a definite purpose. His purpose was to test or to challenge the Apostles in Jerusalem concerning the real meaning of the gospel of grace. Paul wanted to make sure that false teaching of the Judaizers, who also had their headquarters in Jerusalem, was not rubbing off on the Apostles. One companion was Barnabas who was a Jew and was preaching the gospel of grace to Gentiles, as was Paul, and with great success. The other companion was Titus, who was an uncircumcised Gentile, converted to Christ through the gospel of grace. Paul took Titus to Jerusalem as a test case for the whole issue of salvation by grace apart from circumcision. With Titus, Paul was forcing the issue of grace to come out in the open so it could be dealt with by all the Apostles. Paul’s plan was to have the Judaizers rebuked by all the Apostles for teaching false doctrine. The Judaizers taught that circumcision was necessary for a person to be saved, but Titus was a living example that this belief was totally false. Paul was a manipulator in a good sense, for he set up the Judaizers by bringing Titus as a litmus test of true salvation. Paul set up a situation which would bring confrontation so the truth of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone would refute the false teaching of salvation through the Mosiac Law. Leaders often work behind the scenes to bring about a positive conclusion in a large group. This is why leaders are often accused of manipulation. This stigma goes with being a leader. (Sermon) Related Resources at bottom of this page: Excursus on Barnabas- Son of Encouragement DEVOTIONALS RELATED TO BARNABAS SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT BACKGROUND FOR PAUL'S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS Charles Swindoll Insight for Living WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF PAUL'S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS? Bruce Wilkinson, Kenneth Boa TIMING OF PAUL'S TRIP TO JERUSALEM Phil Newton Theological Journal Articles that go into more detail A SHORT EXCURSUS ON THE VALUE OF OBSERVING AND INTERROGATING WORDS LIKE "THEN" - Let me digress for a moment in the interest of encouraging you to read the Bible inductively. Be alert to this "time sensitive" word which means subsequently or soon afterward. Then reveals the timing or sequence of events and answers the 5W/H question "When?" And so to reiterate when used as an expression of time or "time phrase", then marks that which is next in order of time, soon after that, following next after in order of position, narration or enumeration; being next in a series. Observing then can be very useful in following the course of events in a section, especially in eschatological (prophetic) passages - e.g., in Nebuchadnezzar's dream there are several occurrences (in the NAS) - Da 2:35, Da 2:39, Da 2:40, Da 2:46, Da 2:48. Compare the uses of then in the Olivet Discourse - Mt 24:9, Mt 24:14, 16, 21, 23, 30 (2 uses!), etc Every time you encounter a TIME PHRASE you should pause and ask "When type" questions like -- "What time is it? What happens next? Why does this happen now?, etc". Remember that the answer will often be apparent only by examining the context or surrounding passages. Mark expressions of time with a circle or clock (I use a green clock throughout my Bible and recommend Pigma Micron pens to keep from bleeding through the pages) in your Bible margin. I use Micron 01 size / .25 mm which is a fine point and excellent for marking the text. The Micron 005 creates an even finer line but the thin tip is easily bent. Several useful colors are available in a six pack of 0.20 mm (Black, Red, Blue, Green, Brown, Purple). These pens are not cheap but last for many months in my experience. If I might, allow me to make one more "poetic plea" to emphasize the need of us all to hone our skills of Observation the foundation of all fruitful Inductive Bible Study. Although Rudyard Kipling was not referring to Inductive Bible Study when he wrote his poem Six Honest Serving-Men, we can ponder the parallel principle poetically phrased... I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who. I send them over land and sea, I send them east and west; But after they have worked for me, I give them all a rest. Kipling gives sound "Biblical" advice, except for his last line. Beloved, make it the goal of your life to never "give them all a rest" but instead daily "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15+) Most students of Scripture do not see the "gold nuggets" of truth in passages and paragraphs, because they do not know what to look for. One way you will learn what to look for is by asking the right questions. Questions will bring details to our attention. Galatians 2:2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. Amplified: I went because it was specially and divinely revealed to me that I should go, and I put before them the Gospel [declaring to them that] which I preach among the Gentiles. However, [I presented the matter] privately before those of repute, [for I wanted to make certain, by thus at first confining my communication to this private conference] that I was not running or had not run in vain [guarding against being discredited either in what I was planning to do or had already done]. Phillips My visit on this occasion was by divine command, and I gave a full exposition of the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles. I did this first in private conference with the church leaders, to make sure that what I had done and proposed doing was acceptable to them.
Gálatas 2
Robertson comments that "The decision reached by this group (OF REPUTATION) would shape the decision of the public conference in the adjourned meeting (HE IS REFERRING TO THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL - Acts 15:1-29+)....It was of the utmost importance that they should see eye to eye. The Judaizers were assuming that the twelve apostles and James the Lord’s brother would side with them against Paul and Barnabas." But I did so in private to those who were of reputation - Phillips' paraphrase - "I did this first in private conference with the church leaders" "The general communication to the Jerusalem Christians was accompanied by a private consultation with the leaders. Not that a different subject was discussed in private, but that the discussion was deeper and more detailed than would have befitted the whole body of Christians." (Marvin Vincent)