4: Confrontation at Antioch (2:11-21)
I.
The Basics
A.
Setting
To show that the
truth of the gospel is above any man, Paul recalls his confrontation with Peter
in Antioch.
This incident reveals the issue facing the church at the time. While the
apostles had fully realized that salvation is by grace, not by works, some
traditional Jewish believers still considered themselves superior to the
Gentile brethren and demanded that they be circumcised. Based on this event in Antioch, Paul makes clear
his stand on the issue and begins to defend and expound the doctrine of
justification by faith.
B.
Key Verse
“I have been
crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith
in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the
grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in
vain” (2:20-21).
C.
Did You Know…?
1. Antioch
(2:11): “The leading city of Syria
and third leading city of the Roman empire (after Rome
and Alexandria).
From it Paul had been sent out on his missionary journeys (see Ac 13:1-3;
14:26).”4/1782
II.
Observation
A.
Outline
(2:11-13)
(2:14-16)
(2:17-21)
B.
Key Words/Phrases
C.
General Analysis
1. Why do you think Paul tells the Galatians
so openly about Peter’s fault? Is he trying to belittle his fellow worker?
III.
Segment Analysis
A.
2:11-13
1. What was Peter’s mistake?
2. What caused Peter to act in hypocrisy? Was
it ignorance?
3. Why do we sometimes use double standards
the way Peter did? How can we improve in this area?
4. How does verse 13 serve to indicate the
seriousness of Peter’s mistake?
5. Do you sometimes act in a way that is
different from what you believe or teach? How can this become a stumbling
block?
B.
2:14-16
6. Why did Paul need to rebuke Peter publicly?
7a. In what sense did
Peter “live in the manner of Gentiles” (14)?
7b. How did Peter “compel Gentiles to live as Jews”
(14)?
8a. What does Paul mean
by the words in verse 15?
8b. According to verse 16, what had the Jewish
believers, “who were Jews by nature,” realized?
9. What does it mean to be “justified”?
10. Why is it impossible for men to be justified
by the works of law?
C.
2:17-21
11. Rephrase verse 17 in your own words. Consult
several Bible translations to help you understand what Paul is saying.
12a. What things has Paul
destroyed (18)? What does it mean to rebuild what he has destroyed?
12b. Why is rebuilding what has been destroyed a
transgression?
13a. What does it mean to
die to the law through the law (cf. Rom 4:15; 5:13; 7:6)?
13b. What does it mean to
live to God?
14a. How have we also been crucified with Christ,
and how does Christ live in us?
14b. What enables and
motivates us to do so?
15. Paul states, “[Christ] loved me and gave
Himself for me” (20). Do you personally feel that Christ loved you and gave
Himself for you? Why is it important to have such personal conviction?
16. According to verse 21, how does a person “set
aside the grace of God”?
17. What does this verse tell us about why Paul combatted the false gospel so vigorously?
