Galatians 2:2
2 And [de] I went up [anabaino] by [kata] revelation, [apokalupsis] and [kai] communicated [anatithemi] unto them [autos] that
gospel [euaggelion] which [hos] I preach [kerusso] among [en] the Gentiles, [ethnos] but [de] privately [kata] [idios] to them which were of reputation, [dokeo] lest by any means [mepos] [-pos] I should run, [trecho] or [e] had run, [trecho] in [eis] vain. [kenos]KJV-Interlinear
2 And it was because of a
revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach
among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation,
for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. NASB
Paul from time to time received communications from
God, concerning various topics of doctrine, Eph. 3:3.
And even though there were those who wanted
clarification of the gospel and salvation and Levitical rituals, and how these
things were being taught in Jerusalem, Paul went to Jerusalem not at the
request of those present, even though they did commission that trip, Acts 15:2,
but at the direction of God.
Both parties were involved, but the final determination
for his going was from God.
No doubt that Paul was hesitant in going to
Jerusalem, because of the anti-Paul sentiment that he most probably would run
into. But God cleared up that concern
and Paul went as directed by God, and as requested by people.
Paul did not go to receive instruction. Paul did not go to consult. Paul did not go
in order to observe or learn new techniques.
He went to Jerusalem in order to teach or reveal
that which he was preaching to the gentiles.
And that was principally, that salvation was available
to the gentiles, that the gentiles were not required to subscribe to the Law of
Moses, or of Judaism, that salvation was through faith and nothing more.
He went to the leadership in Jerusalem, in private,
and did not go to a public forum or assembly, so that his trip would not end up
in a debate of popular thought and thus become a waste of time.
Paul spoke to the apostles that were there, not as
a group but spoke with them in private in one on ones or twos in order to present
more clearly his views.
In a public setting, his views would have been
rejected and challenged by unbelieving Jews, as will be the case later on when
they try to persecute him and succeed in getting him arrested.
To run means to have failed or to have made the
trip in futility. Thus the purpose of
the trip was to present his teaching at the request of those sending him, but
also, God sent him in order to make it clear that his teaching was correct,
thus even if informally, others in Jerusalem , even the apostles would see and
learn the truth in a more correct sense.
Paul already knew the truth. He had no need to travel anywhere, much less correct
anyone. His ministry was to the
gentiles. One man was commissioned to teach all gentiles, a vast population
down through the ages since that time.
The eleven other apostles were commissioned to
teach only one race. The Jewish people were and have been, a stubborn and stiff
necked people, requiring more intense instruction.
The gentiles seem to learn more easily. The Jewish people have been indifferent
toward truth for centuries. That has
resulted in many atrocities throughout history.
It will not be until that last generation, during
the Tribulation, that the greatest number of Jews will finally believe in
Christ, and they will do it in vast numbers.
