Galatians 2:7
7 But [alla] contrariwise, [tounantion] when they saw [eido] that [hoti] the gospel [euaggelion] of
the uncircumcision [akrobustia] was committed
unto me, [pisteuo] as [kathos] the gospel of the circumcision [peritome] was unto Peter; [Petros] KJV-Interlinear
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 NASB
The word for gospel, typically has been used for
the message of Christ as Savior, His identity, His role on the cross, His work
in salvation and how it applies to every human being.
But in the general sense, the gospel terminology
deals with the general message and not so much as the detailed content.
For example the gospel of faith would deal with
faith. The gospel of salvation would deal
with the work of the cross. The gospel
of the spiritual life would deal with the mechanics of the spiritual life and
so forth.
The gospel of the uncircumcised is not a message
for a surgical procedure, but is in reference to the peoples that do not follow
that practice, namely gentiles as back in Pauls day.
The gospel of the circumcised would then deal with
the peoples that did practice circumcision for new born infant males, namely
the Jewish people and perhaps a few others, but primarily the Jewish people.
Therefore, Peter was the primary messenger to the
Jews, the circumcised, while Paul was the messenger to the gentiles, the
uncircumcised.
This has nothing to do with the message of
salvation that both delivered, for their message was the same, namely faith in
Christ for salvation.
Therefore, the only thing that the apostles knew about
Paul was mostly by hearsay, which was probably not very complimentary, given
Pauls past history.
But when the apostles heard that Paul was
addressing the gentiles with authority, then they recognized that he was indeed
an apostle selected by Christ, just as they were and his mission was to the
gentiles.
All of the apostles delivered their messages of
salvation to all peoples, both Jew and gentile, but in those very first years,
the initial eleven apostles focused primarily on the Jewish people. And as time wore on, that message spread
inevitably across the region and beyond so that all people heard the message of
Christ.
But here, Paul indicates that he was accepted by
the apostles as an equal, or as an authority, with regard to delivering the
same message as they were teaching. He
was just delivering the message to the gentiles.
The cultural tradition of circumcision was
irrelevant to the spiritual concept and truth of salvation. Since people who practiced it and who did not
practice it, had the same right and access to salvation. Faith is that access.
Culture and tradition may contribute to making
people unique and interesting as far as how they live within their relative
regions and it gives people or groups more individuality, but culture and
traditions have nothing to do with the spiritual life.
