><>...Hi tippet, good to hear from you again and glad...><>
that you are here. Thank you for your sincere prayers for this child Sabrina.
Here is what I have gathered from that portion of Galatians you have asked about....I do believe that you are correct in concluding that vs.15-21 continue with Paul's rebuke of Peter. The subject has not changed at all from 14 to the end, and in fact it was because of Peter's separating himself from the Gentiles only when the Jews were present, that these verses were even written. Peter's behaviour, it seems really ticked Paul off. Also notice that there was no rebuttal from Peter, but instead Peter give Paul a great compliment in 2 Pt.3:15 .....all was written as an example for us.
So here is my take;
2:14 As a convert to Christianity Peter knew that our Father no longer made any distinctions as to national differences (Acts10:28). Peter had abandoned the laws which once were necessary to be righteous, but suddenly now again he was reverting to the laws and refusing to eat with the Gentiles, when he heard that those of the circumcision were coming v.12 ....Thereby behaving as a hypocrite (dissembled v.13)Maybe to gain favor with the Jews.
2:15 We...Notice Paul's use of we, he includes Peter when he says we are Jews by nature... in knowing and understanding that justification is now by faith in Jesus Christ.
2:16 Jews who had been saved knew that there was no salvation in the law. ...Our Lord Jesus is presented here as the the only way to Salvation...Paul is telling Peter that even we Jews, now understand that salvation can only come by Faith in Christ.. No law keeping can justify us...So why Peter are you now telling the Gentiles that they must follow the law? The attitude of Paul in v.14, is continued even in v.16 ...The law was good only to show us as sinners but there was no way of keeping it...The law was the only to expose sin...it could not save.
2:17...But if while we seek to be justified by Christ... Paul, as well as Peter and others looked to Jesus for their salvation....Peter in Antioch behaved as if he did not believe that he was fully justified by Christ, and had to revert to the law to be fully justified... And then if this be true then Christ was not a perfect Saviour.....Is Christ then the minister of sin if we also have to obey the law which convicts us of sin?....Paul answers with an indignant, Certainly not!...So straighten up and fly right my brother Peter, Is what Paul really said.....Smile...( that is actually what Paul meant when he said."When I saw that they had not walked uprightly) to be straightfooted, to go straightforwarded with the gospel of Christ...and not be doulbleminded and hypocritical.
Have a blessed evening my good friend you and your family.
Shalom...><>
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