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Galations 2
NEW INTERNATIONAL READER’S VERSION
Study Bible Notes
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1
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Fourteen years
later I went up again to Jerusalem. This time I went with Barnabas. I
took Titus along also.
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2
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I went because
God showed me what he wanted me to do. I told the people there the good
news that I preach among those who aren't Jews. But I spoke in private
to those who seemed to be leaders. I was afraid that I was running or
had run my race for nothing.
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3
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Titus was with
me. He was a Greek. But even he was not forced to be circumcised.
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4
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That matter came
up because some who pretended to be believers had slipped in among us.
They wanted to find out about the freedom we have because we belong to
Christ Jesus. They wanted to make us slaves again.
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5
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We didn't give
in to them for a moment. We wanted the truth of the good news to remain
with you.
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6
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Some people in
Jerusalem seemed to be important. It makes no difference to me what
they were. God does not judge by what he sees on the outside. Those
people added nothing to my message.
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7
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In fact, it was
just the opposite. They saw that I had been trusted with the task of
preaching the good news just as Peter had been. My task was to preach to
the non Jews. Peter's task was to preach to the Jews.
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8
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God was working
through Peter as an apostle to the Jews. He was also working through me
as an apostle to the non Jews.
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9
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James, Peter and
John are considered to be pillars in the church. They recognized the
special grace that was given to me. So they shook my hand and the hand
of Barnabas. They wanted to show they accepted us. They agreed that we
should go to the non Jews. They would go to the Jews.
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10
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They asked only
one thing. They wanted us to continue to remember poor people. That
was what I really wanted to do anyway.
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11
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When Peter came
to Antioch, I told him to his face that I was against what he was doing.
He was clearly wrong.
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12
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He used to eat
with those who weren't Jews. But certain men came from the group that
was led by James. When they arrived, Peter began to draw back. He
separated himself from the non Jews. He was afraid of the circumcision
group.
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13
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Peter’s
actions were not honest. The other Jews joined him. Even Barnabas was
led down the wrong path.
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14
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I saw what they
were doing. It was not in line with the truth of the good news. So I
spoke to Peter in front of them all. “You are a Jew,” I said. “But you
live like one who is not. So why do you force non Jews to follow Jewish
ways?”
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15
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We are Jews by
birth. We are not “non Jewish sinners.”
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16
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We know that no
one is made right with God by obeying the law. It is by believing in
Jesus Christ. So we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus. That is so
we can be made right with God by believing in Christ, not by obeying the
law. No one can be made right with God by obeying the law.
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17
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We are trying to
be made right with God through Christ. But it is clear that we are
sinners. So does that mean that Christ causes us to sin? Certainly
not!
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18
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Suppose I build
again what I had destroyed. Then I prove that I break the Law.
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19
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Because of the law, I died as far as the law
is concerned. I died so that I might live for God.
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20
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I have been crucified with Christ. I don’t
live any longer. Christ lives in me. My faith in the Son of God helps
me to live my life in my body. He loved me. He gave himself for me.
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21
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I do not get rid
of the grace of God. What if a person could become right with God by
obeying the law? Then Christ died for nothing!
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