Paul continues to untangle the mess left by those who have perverted what God began through him in the churches of Galatia. False teachers rolled into the region perverting the Jesus' Gospel of grace right after Paul headed home.
These spiritual snake oil salesmen not only sold the Galatians on a perverted gospel of "do better," but they also accused Paul of going rogue with no accountability to the "real" apostles.
He writes about a return trip to Jerusalem 14 years later (v1). Paul had just referenced how he spent a couple of weeks there hanging out with Peter and James (Gal 1:18-20). This first trip was three years after Jesus mugged him on the Damascus highway (Acts 9:3-6).
This journey to Jerusalem is "after fourteen years." This doesn't mean that he hasn't made other trips because he has (Acts 11:27-30; 12:25). He and Barnabas were there to discuss famine relief efforts. Paul doesn't mention that visit to the holy city here because it has nothing to do with his apostolic authority.
There's also the question of how to count the 14 years. When do you start the clock? It is either from his last visit or from the day Jesus saved him. Scholars and theologians are split on the issue. Since there is uncertainty, I don't think this is going to be on the final exam.
Paul makes this trip with two buddies, Barnabas and Titus. Barney is the Cypriot Jew who vouched for Paul with the disciples after his conversion (Acts 9:27). The dynamic duo teamed up for their legendary expedition that included Barney's home island of Cyprus as well as the region of Galatia (Acts 13:1-14:28). This is before the two men had a falling out over taking Barney's cousin John Mark (Acts 15:36-40) for a return trip.
Titus is the third member of the three amigos who make the journey to Jerusalem. As opposed to Paul and Barney, Titus isn't Jewish. That's a big deal, especially on this trip. We don't know exactly where Paul met his protege but it would certainly seem to be somewhere on that first trip to Galatia.
He would be living, breathing, walking proof of what Jesus is doing among Gentiles around the world. Titus would go on to be one of Paul's most trusted men. He eventually send him to the island of Crete to provide crucial leadership to the churches there. The apostle's letter instructing him is the book we call Titus.
Paul writes that the reason he makes this trip to Jerusalem is "because of a revelation" (v2). Previously he was quite clear that he didn't check with anyone before beginning to preach because Jesus Himself revealed the Gospel to him (Gal 1:15-27). He wasn't worried about what people said about him or thought about him (Gal 1:10).
But this time God has tapped him on the shoulder and sends him on his merry way. We don't read of this revelation from God to Paul anywhere else. It could have been another personal appearance by the risen Jesus or at the urging of the Holy Spirit. Both of Them guided and communicated with the apostle throughout his life.
Paul's purpose for going is to "set before them...the Gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles" (v2). For some reason, God prompts the man from Tarsus to take time out from his ministry to meet with church leaders in Jerusalem. This is basically a visit to the home office.
This probably isn’t the same important meeting that Luke records in Acts 15. Many folks mistakenly refer to this as the "Jerusalem Council" meeting. It's probably better understood as the Jerusalem counsel. These men got together to counsel each other and make sure they are proclaiming the same message of grace and salvation.
Paul tells the Galatians that he met privately with "those who seemed influential" (v2). He uses this phrase and something very similar in verses 6 and 9. This would be the Apostles Peter and John as well as Jesus' brother James (v9).
According to John MacArthur, this phrase is a way to refer to people in authority or position of honor. This was also a direct slap in the face of the Gospel perverts who preached a counterfeit message to the Galatians.
The Apostle Paul sat down with the leaders at the home office and compared notes. He had spent the past 14 years telling everyone about Jesus, both Jews and non-Jews. It was crucial to do this "in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain" (v2). This was good not only for Paul but for Peter, John and James as well.
Paul describes his work like running a race. Twice here he uses the Greek verb τρεχω/trecho. It means to rush forward, run or sprint. There are sad stories of runners making the wrong turns while competing in marathons and 10ks. They exert all of the effort but it's wasted because they failed to follow the course.
That's what Paul is describing here. God nudged him to meet with these three church leaders in order to make sure he was running in the right direction.
This is a great reminder to any of us. I may think I've heard from Jesus, but I need to be accountable. I need to check with folks and make sure that I'm running in the right direction. These meetings are essential to running the race that Jesus has laid out before me. And it may be important for those with whom I meet.
Let's stay on course.
©2012
Jay Jennings
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