Galatians 2

🔍 Overview

Paul continues defending the authenticity of his gospel and apostleship. He recounts a visit to Jerusalem where church leaders affirmed his message to the Gentiles. However, he also describes a confrontation with Peter (Cephas) in Antioch, where Paul publicly rebuked him for hypocritically pulling away from Gentile believers. Paul explains that justification—being made right with God—comes only by faith in Jesus Christ, not by observing the law. This is the heart of the gospel Paul passionately defends.

✨ Key Themes

Unity of the gospel: Whether to Jews or Gentiles, the message is the same—salvation by grace through faith.

Courageous correction: Paul confronted even an apostle when the truth of the gospel was at stake.

Justification by faith: We are made right with God not by law, but by trusting in Jesus.

Dying to the law: In Christ, we die to performance-based religion and live by faith.

📖 Key Verses

Galatians 2:16 – “A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.”

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…”

Galatians 2:21 – “If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

🪞 Reflection Questions

In what ways are you tempted to earn God’s approval through works rather than faith?

How do you handle conflict when someone is straying from biblical truth?

What does it mean to you personally that you’ve been “crucified with Christ”?