Galatians 2:7

7 But on the contrary, when they had seen, that the evangel of [the] prepuce was given to me, as the evangel of circumcision was given to Peter [that the gospel of prepuce, or of heathen men, was taken to me, as and of circumcision to Peter];

Galatians 2:7 Meaning and Commentary

Galatians 2:7

But contrariwise, when they saw that the Gospel
James, Cephas, and John, were so far from blaming or correcting anything in the apostle's ministry, or adding anything to it, that they highly approved of it; and as a token of their agreement with him and Barnabas, gave them the right hand of fellowship: the reasons of their so doing are inserted here, and in the following verse, and in the next to that: the reason here given is, because

they saw that the Gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto
me, as the Gospel of the circumcision was to Peter;
by "the uncircumcision and circumcision" are meant the Gentiles and Jews; see ( rom 2:26 rom 2:27 ) ( 3:30 ) by the Gospel of the one, and the Gospel of the other, two Gospels are not designed, for there is but one Gospel, and not another. Paul did not preach one Gospel unto the uncircumcised Gentiles, and Peter another to the circumcised Jews; but the same Gospel was preached by both, and is so called with respect to the different persons to whom it was preached by these apostles. The Apostle Paul was ordained a minister of the Gentiles, and he chiefly preached among them, though not to them only. Peter was principally employed among the Jews, though also as he had opportunity he sometimes preached to the Gentiles: however, the subject of both their ministrations was the Gospel, which is said to be "committed" to them, as a trust deposited in their hands, not by man, but by God; the management of which required both prudence and faithfulness, and which were eminently seen in these good stewards of the mysteries of God. This being observed by the apostles at Jerusalem, they came into an agreement that one part should discharge their ministry among the Gentiles, and the other among the Jews.

Galatians 2:7 In-Context

5 But we gave no place to subjection [+To whom neither at an hour we gave stead, or place, to subjection], that the truth of the gospel should dwell with you.
6 But of these that seemed to be somewhat; which they were sometime, it pertaineth not to me [what manner they were sometime, it pertaineth nothing to me], for God taketh not the person of man; for they that seemed to be somewhat, gave me nothing [nothing to me gave].
7 But on the contrary, when they had seen, that the evangel of [the] prepuce was given to me, as the evangel of circumcision was given to Peter [that the gospel of prepuce, or of heathen men, was taken to me, as and of circumcision to Peter];
8 for he that wrought to Peter in apostlehood of circumcision, wrought also to me among the heathen;
9 and when they had known the grace of God, that was given to me, James, and Peter, and John, which were seen to be the pillars, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and to Barnabas, that we among the heathen, and they into the circumcision; [+and when they had known the grace, that is given to me, James, and Cephas, or Peter, and John, which were seen to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we preach among heathen men, they forsooth into the circumcision;]
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.