Every time I bring in Galatians 2:7-9, people are always replying with Galatians 1:8-9, and whenever I point out what happened in Acts 21:20-25 in reply, they go silent.
Gal 1:6-9 says there is only one Gospel... not two. It flat out condemns the two-gospel model saying that if an Apostle or an Angel from heaven were to appear claiming to have another gospel "let him be accursed". A bible teaching about the clear Bible fact that there is only one gospel -- that most people would gladly embrace.
It forms "the context" for what comes next including Gal 2 and Gal 3 where we find Gal 3:8 that the one and only Gospel was preached to Abraham.
Gal 2:7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised,
just as Peter had been to the circumcised
Gal 2 is not claiming "two different Gospels" it is proclaiming the "one and only gospel" to two different groups.
You are willing to discuss what went down in Acts 21:20-25, to understand what Peter James and John agreed with Paul in Galatians 2:7-9?
I am always willing to look at scripture in context. Gal 1 is the first-order "context" for Gal 2 and Gal 3:8 demonstrates that point.
Acts 21:20-26 sure..
20 And when they heard
about them, they
began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; 21 and they have been told about you,
that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 So what is
to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Therefore, do as we tell you: we have four men who have a vow upon themselves; 24 take them along and purify yourself together with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads;
and then everyone will know that there is nothing to what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also conform, keeping the Law. 25 But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we sent a letter, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took along the men, and the next day, after purifying himself together with them, he went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of
purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.
Acts 15
Some men came down from Judea and
began teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses,
you cannot be saved.”
24 Since we have heard that
some of our number t
o whom we gave no instruction have confused you by
their teaching, upsetting your souls, 25 it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word
of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29 that you
abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from acts of sexual immorality; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”
And of course "
the first commandment with a promise" Eph 6:1-2 "Honor your father and mother" - in that still valid unit of Ten
Acts 16
Now
Paul also came to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2 and he was well spoken of by the brothers
and sisters who were in Lystra and Iconium. 3
Paul wanted this man to leave with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
