God’s Word for You
Galatians 2:1-2 Not in vain
by Pastor Timothy Smith on Monday, June 10, 2024
2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas. I brought Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation, and I set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles—but in private before those who were considered important—in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.
Long after his conversion and at the end of his first mission trip, Paul went to Jerusalem. Paul didn’t go because he was suddenly nervous or afraid that his gospel message wasn’t lining up with what the apostles preached—otherwise, why wait fourteen years to go and find out? No, he went for the opposite reason, which was to show other people (his opponents) that the gospel he was preaching actually lined up exactly with what the apostles of Christ were preaching back in Jerusalem. This was his human reason, but there was a divine reason for Paul’s trip, and that was another revelation from God. The Lord himself wanted Paul to be in Jerusalem at this time, and so Paul went.
Paul took at least two men with him: Barnabas and Titus. Barnabas was a Jew from Cyprus, and Titus was a Greek. Barnabas was Paul’s preaching companion throughout his first missionary trip through Asia Minor, which included work among the Galatians. Titus was learning from the other men, and would soon become Paul’s troubleshooter, laboring in Corinth when Paul couldn’t remain there (2 Corinthians 8:6, 12:18). A little after that, Titus went to Crete with Paul and remained to organize the churches there (Titus 1:4-5). Much later, shortly before Paul’s death, Titus also worked in Dalmatia (far northwestern Greece, across the sea and “behind the boot” of Italy, 2 Timothy 4:10).
Luther points out that these two men, Barnabas and Titus, would make excellent witnesses about Paul’s preaching on account of their different backgrounds, so that if Paul “did too much for the Jews” then the Gentile Titus would oppose him, and if Paul “did too much for the Gentiles” then Barnabas, a Jew, would oppose him. “By presenting himself with both of them he intended to make it clear that he was at liberty to be a Gentile with Titus and a Jew with Barnabas” (LW 27:208). This would demonstrate the freedom of the gospel; that it is permissible to be circumcised and yet that circumcision is not necessary, and that this is the way we should think about everything in the Law of Moses.
We see, then, that Paul constantly has in mind the error of the gospel-twisting Judaizers in this letter, who were teaching that man is not justified by faith alone in Christ, but that to attain righteousness before God (and eternal life) there is an additional need to observe the Law, and in fact, not only the moral law but also the ceremonial law (and specifically circumcision). He is about to present the issue, but since Titus was indirectly the cause of one of the most important confrontations about this issue, he describes for the Galatians the circumstances of what we might call “The Titus Case.”
The leaders of the Jerusalem Christians met quietly and privately with Paul and Barnabas, and part of the meeting was an examination of Paul’s preaching. We do the same thing still today. When pastors meet for conferences or conventions, one man will preach, a few more will lead devotions, and one or more will also present a formal paper, sometimes such a presentation can take days and be several hours in length. These are opportunities (1) to give glory to God for his grace and many blessings, for “immeasurable and unsearchable is his promised mercy,” (2) to choose and publicly install new officers in positions of leadership and service, (3) to rejoice in our mutual agreement on the Bible’s doctrines, (4) to correct one another with love where there is an incomplete understanding or an error in understanding or presentation, (5) to discuss new issues and ideas that present obstacles or opportunities for the gospel (2 Corinthians 2:12), and (6) to learn and be edified by the sermon, to help guard one another’s spirit in such devotions, presentations and papers, and to give thought to our ways, so that we continue to grow in our understanding of God’s word and in our faith.
The point of all of this is to be certain, as Paul did, that our work is not somehow “in vain,” or to no real purpose. An empty gospel, false teaching, and incorrect doctrine all lead to empty results in the hearts of God’s people. More than this, such things rob God’s people of the certainty and comfort that they should have in the cross of Jesus Christ. As David says so dramatically, a true shepherd of God’s people will also say: “If I have done evil to him who is at peace with me, then let my enemy pursue and overtake me” (Psalm 7:4). We should welcome and encourage God’s people with the true Gospel and the full counsel of God. Some rebel against these things and despise them (Psalm 107:11), but blessed are all who delight in the word of the Lord. The Lord our God watches over the way of the righteous (Psalm 1:2,6, 145:20).
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. To receive God’s Word for You via e-mail, please visit the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church website.