Galatians 2:15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 2:11-21

I. From the account which Paul gives of what passed between him and the other apostles at Jerusalem, the Galatians might easily discern both the falseness of what his enemies had insinuated against him and their own folly and weakness in departing from that gospel which he had preached to them. But to give the greater weight to what he had already said, and more fully to fortify them against the insinuations of the judaizing teachers, he acquaints them with another interview which he had with... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 2:14-17

2:14-17 But when I saw that they were straying away from the right path which the gospel lays down, I said to Peter in front of them all, "If you who are a born Jew choose to live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. why are you forcing the Gentiles to live like Jews? We are by nature Jews; we are not Gentile sinners as you would call them; and we know that a man is not put right with God because he does the works which the law lays down, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Now we have accepted... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:15

We who are Jews by nature ,.... I Paul, and you Peter and Barnabas, and the rest of the Jews at Antioch. Some are Jews by grace, in a spiritual sense, as all are that are Christ's, that are true believers in him, that are born again, and have internal principles of grace formed in their souls, of whatsoever nation they be; see Romans 2:28 . Others become Jews by being proselytes to the Jewish religion: such were the Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven, that were dwelling at... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 2:15

We who are Jews by nature - We who belong to the Jewish nation - who have been born, bred, and educated Jews. And not sinners of the Gentiles - Ἁμαρτωλοι· Not without the knowledge of God, as they have been. Ἁμαρτωλος often signifies a heathen, merely one who had no knowledge of the true God. But among the nations or Gentiles many Jews sojourned; who in Scripture are known by the name of Hellenists, and these were distinguished from those who were termed εξ εθνων ἁμαρτωλοι ,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 2:15

Verse 15 15.We who are Jews by nature. Some, I am aware, think that this is stated in the form of an objection, ( ἀνθυποφορὰ,) anticipating what might be urged on the other side, that the Jews possessed higher privileges; not that they would boast of exemption from the law, (for it would have been highly absurd, that they to whom the Law was given should make this their boast,) but that there was a propriety in retaining some points of distinction between them and the Gentiles. I do not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:1-21

The chapter falls into two sections. Of these, viewed in their leading purport, the first ( Acts 15:1-10 ) exhibits the recognition formally accorded to St. Paul's gospel and work by the highest authorities of the Church of the circumcision; the second ( Acts 15:11-21 ) displays in a very stalking light the independence and co-ordinateness of his position when standing face to face with the very chiefest of the apostles. But while these seem to be their leading objects, we find the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:11-18

The apostolic strife at Antioch. Passing from the Jerusalem conference, Paul next mentions the strife which Peter and he had at Antioch. Peter had come down to see the work of God among the Gentiles. In his large-heartedness he had not only approved of it and rejoiced in it, but, laying aside all his Jewish prejudices, he had taken his seat at the table of the Gentiles, and had eaten whatever was placed before him. But certain "false brethren" having come round, and having urged the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:11-21

Withstanding of Peter at Antioch. "But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face." From the public conference at Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas went down to Antioch, where, it is said, they tarried. They separated after this stay. The visit of Peter to Antioch must be referred to this period, seeing Barnabas is mentioned as still with Paul. There was more than resistance made to Peter; there was the going up to him, meeting him face to face, and charging him with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:15

We who are Jews by nature ( ἡμεῖς φύσει ἰουδαῖοι ); we being Jews by nature ; or, we are Jews by nature. In point of construction, it may be observed that, after εἰδότες in the next verse, recent editors concur in inserting δέ . With this correction of the text, we may either make this fifteenth verse a separate sentence, by supplying ἐσμέν , "we are Jews by nature," etc., and begin the next verse with the words, "but yet, knowing that … even we believed," etc.; or we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 2:15-16

The true way of salvation. The apostle then proceeds to show that the way of salvation is not by the works of the Law at all, but in a quite different way. t/is words to Peter imply— I. THE NECESSITY OF JUSTIFICATION FOR BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES . "We being Jews by nature, and not sinners from among the Gentiles." He tells the Judaists the Jews had some advantage over the Gentiles. Yet, after all, the Jews themselves, such as Paul and Peter, were obliged to renounce... read more

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