GAL 2:1-10

The Council at Jerusalem

1Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. [2:2] And I went up according to a revelation and laid before them the gospel I proclaim among the Gentiles — but privately before those who seem to be of standing — so that I was not running or had not run in vain. [2:3] But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. [2:4] But this was because of the false brothers brought in secretly, who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they would enslave us. [2:5] To them we did not yield in subjection for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. [2:6] And from those who seemed to be of standing — whatever they once were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality — those of standing added nothing to me. [2:7] But on the contrary, seeing that I have been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter with the circumcised — [2:8] for the one who worked through Peter for the apostleship of the circumcised also worked through me for the Gentiles — [2:9] and recognizing the grace given to me, James and Cephas and John, those who seem to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. [2:10] Only they asked that we remember the poor — the very thing I was also eager to do.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious authority, and its leaders held significant influence over Jewish communities, including those in the Diaspora. The Council at Jerusalem, described here, reflects a critical moment in the early Jesus movement, where Jewish and Gentile inclusion in the community was debated. Paul’s mention of Titus, an uncircumcised Greek, highlights the tension between Jewish identity markers, like circumcision, and the emerging Gentile mission. The 'false brothers' likely refers to Jewish-Christian factions insisting on strict adherence to Torah observance, particularly circumcision, as a requirement for Gentile believers. Their 'spying' suggests a covert attempt to enforce Jewish customs, threatening the 'freedom' Paul associates with Christ. The 'esteemed' leaders—James, Peter, and John—represent the Jerusalem church’s authority. Their recognition of Paul’s mission to the Gentiles, while asking him to 'remember the poor' , reflects a compromise: Gentile inclusion without abandoning Jewish communal obligations, particularly care for the destitute.

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How other translations render this

GAL 2:1

KJV: Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
BSB: Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
Koinōnos: Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.

GAL 2:2

KJV: And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
BSB: I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.
Koinōnos: And I went up according to a revelation and laid before them the gospel I proclaim among the Gentiles — but privately before those who seem to be of standing — so that I was not running or had not run in vain.

GAL 2:3

KJV: But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
BSB: Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
Koinōnos: But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.

GAL 2:4

KJV: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
BSB: This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
Koinōnos: But this was because of the false brothers brought in secretly, who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they would enslave us.

GAL 2:5

KJV: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
BSB: We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
Koinōnos: To them we did not yield in subjection for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.

GAL 2:6

KJV: But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
BSB: But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me.
Koinōnos: And from those who seemed to be of standing — whatever they once were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality — those of standing added nothing to me.

GAL 2:7

KJV: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
BSB: On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.
Koinōnos: But on the contrary, seeing that I have been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter with the circumcised —

GAL 2:8

KJV: (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
BSB: For the One who was at work in Peterʼs apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.
Koinōnos: for the one who worked through Peter for the apostleship of the circumcised also worked through me for the Gentiles —

GAL 2:9

KJV: And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
BSB: And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
Koinōnos: and recognizing the grace given to me, James and Cephas and John, those who seem to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

GAL 2:10

KJV: Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
BSB: They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Koinōnos: Only they asked that we remember the poor — the very thing I was also eager to do.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

GAL 2:2

esteemed —:The word translated 'esteemed' here carries the sense of 'to seem' or 'to appear to be.' It suggests that those in authority were perceived as important, rather than necessarily being so in an absolute sense.

GAL 2:4

brought in secretly:The term used here for 'brought in secretly' implies an infiltration or a surreptitious introduction, suggesting a deliberate and underhanded attempt to gain access.
they will enslave,:The word translated 'they will enslave' emphasizes a complete and forceful subjugation, reducing someone to a state of absolute servitude.

GAL 2:10

poor:The word translated 'poor' here refers to someone who is destitute, a beggar utterly dependent on the charity of others, not merely someone of low economic status.