- I’m reading Luther’s Galatian commentary, and specifically studying what he thinks and comments about Gal 2:14. This is found in the translation of his commentary by Rev Erasmus Middleton, and corrected and revised by I J Chidley, Aldersgate Str, 1844, page 84.
- Luther is referring to Galatian’s chapter 2, and in particular, the passage where Paul rebukes Peter’s hypocritical act in suddenly not eating with the Gentile believers in the Galatian church after some Jews from Jerusalem had visited him there.
- Luther says with respect to this incident recorded in holy Scripture, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and thereby, “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16, Updated American Standard Version +), “I said before, that many have the gospel, but not the TRUTH (capitalized for emphasis by me) of the gospel.
- This assertion by Luther in making a distinction between “the gospel”, and “the truth of the gospel”, requires deeper study and meditation as the ramifications concern the contemporary church in many aspects.
- Luther explains this distinction in the following sentence: “that is to say, they had the gospel, but they walked NOT UPRIGHTLY (capitalized for emphasis by me) according to the gospel.” Luther interprets Paul as saying that this act of Peter is hypocritical, or to use the older English word, “dissimulation”, and “disassembled”.
- A study of the word in Greek used to translate this is helpful in understanding the full import of what’s happening in this passage. It is also crucial that we remind ourselves that it is the Holy Spirit who chose to have this incident of the early church recorded in holy Scriptures.
- The word dissimulation, is translated from the Greek word, “sunupokrinomai”, which means, according to the Strong and Thayer bible lexicons (dictionary), “to act hypocritically with”. Noteworthy is that Barnabas is recorded as being “seduced”, or “carried away” by this hypocrisy.
- An insight into how the Holy Spirit uses words, phrases, and this incident should serve as a warning that hypocrisy, especially related to the gospel can lead to seduction, or others being carried away from the “truth of the gospel”, even though they may claim to hold on to the gospel.
- The Holy Spirit is teaching today’s “gospel” congregations, and their leaders through this incident between Peter and Paul, how even “pillars of the church” (Peter and Barnabas) may have the gospel, and yet, in certain situations or circumstances, still not act, or behave or make decisions according to the truth of the gospel.
- A contemporary example would be of churches and leaders of churches who have the gospel but not walk “the right way to the truth of the gospel” is the issue of dividing believers united with Christ into “church members”, or “covenant partners”, and non-church members, or non-covenant members.
- The more I grow in grace and knowledge of the love of God in Christ in His gospel, the more I see how grievous a thing it is to divide asunder the genuine body of Christ and His members into “church members” and “non-church members”. It clearly comes across as a contradiction not only of terms, but especially of meaning.
Luther, “many have the gospel, but not the Truth of the gospel”! (A massive rebuke to “gospel-centered” churches today.)
Tags: carried away, church membership, Galatian commentary, hypocritical, lexicon, Luther, seduction, Strong’s, Thayer’s, truth of the gospel
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About the author
Franklin Morais
A follower of Christ for 48 years, Franklin is an itinerant gospel preacher and teacher, and a part-time lecturer in Counseling, Psychology and Education at HELP University, Kuala Lumpur. He worships at Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang.
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