The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 143

God proceeds in his choice or acknowledgment of instruments, And with nll their reputation they imparted to him no additional authority or element in teaching, ns superiors to ~n. inferior. 2. They recognized him. .A.s havin_q an independent trust, "But contrar1w1se, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the gospel of the circumcision (for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles)." Of the men of repute, he singles out Peter as the principal representative of the circumcision. He was entrusted with the gospel whose sphere was the circumcision; and he presented it, as may be seen from his address and Epistles, with a certain adaptation to the Jews. The burden of his early preaching was the great crime which the Jews had committed in crucifying their Messiah, and their duty t.o repent of that crime and to trust in Christ for salvation. When he writes to them as the Dispersion, he is still a Jew, in dwelling on the ancient glories of the race. His mind is imbued with the deliverances wrought for. them, the majesty and sanctity of their temple, the sacred functions of the priesthood, the mystery of sacrifice, all receiving their fulfilment in the Christian manifestation. He is also a. Jew in looking forward to a glorious future. His gospel points away to " the inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away;"" the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time;"" the appearing of Jesus Christ.." But Paul was on a parity with Peter. He was entrusted with the gospel, whose sphere was the uncircumcision, and he presented it with a certain adaptation to the Gentiles. Not shunning Jewish imagery, he combined with it a certain free use of Gentile imagery. And it was specially given him to preach, what Peter indeed had learnt before him, that the Gentiles were to be admitted into the kingdom of God without 1:eing required to submit to circumcision. This parity of trust was made evident to the men of repute at Jerusalem. And the way in which it was made evident was this. It was evident that Peter was appointed to the apostleship of the circumcision by the abundant energy with wliich God supplied him for working among them. It was equally evident that Paul was appointed to the apostleship of the Gentiles by the abundant energy with which God supplied him for working among them. As having such a t'l"USt by the display of grace toward him. "And when they perceived the grace that was given unto me." 'l'he conclusion was forced home on them that he had an independent trust. When they compared that with tbeir former knowledge of him, they could only ascribe it t.o grace. Their knowledge was now of him as a remarkable trophy of grace. 3. They gave him formal recognition. "James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision." The three are now mentione~ by nall?e· The last mentioned is John, and it is remarkable that in this, the only mention of ~1m by Paul, he is represented as doing a kindly act. Peter, who is called Cephas ~which also means" rock"), has just had a wide sphere connected with him. James 1s here placed before him on the same ground on which he presided at the public conference, viz. as representative (not necessarily bishop) of the mother Church at Jerusale!13• His taking the lead made the formal recognition of Paul the act of the Church : while the association of Peter and John with him gave it a wider significance. These three were had in estimation as pillars (stoops, supports), i.e. men upon whom (hum:i,1:1ly speaking) the keeping up of the Church greatly depended. Th~ir formal recogmt!on extended to Barnabas. 'l'hey recognized in what was not exclusively Easten:i- fashion (being ril.!her universal), by each giving the right hand of fellowship. That m r~gard to which they expressed fellowship was the division of work-Gentile and J~w1sh- which is not to be understood with the greatest strictness. The fellowship they expressed amounted to giving Paul and Barnabas their hearty good wishes in their separate and co-ordinate sphere. 4-. They only recommended. " Only they would tb~t we should rcmem ber the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do." 'l'her~ IB e. recognized ecclesiastical distincti.on between an injunction and a recommendation. 'l'be three did not, as ecclesiastical superiors, lay their authority upon Paul and Barna.bas; they only, as brethren, made a request of them. The r?quest chimed_ in with Paul's own habitual feeling. He speaks only for himself, his zeal extendmg beyond the time when he could speak for Barnabas, who shortly afterwards parted from him. Thus conclusively does he establish his independence. The matt£.r of the CH, IL 1-21,] 'l'HE EPIS'rl,E ·ro THE GALATIANS. 109