Q2. Hypocrisy

[Stanley Tavaziva]

Antioch of Syria was a major trade center in the ancient world. Heavily populated by Greeks, it eventually became a strong Christian center. In Antioch the believers were first called Christians. Antioch of Syria became the headquarters for the Gentile church and was Paul’s base of operations.

Peter probably thought that by staying away from the Gentiles, he was promoting harmony—he did not want to offend James and the Jewish Christians. James had a very prominent position and presided over the Jerusalem council (Acts 15). But Paul charged that Peter’s action violated the Good News. By joining the Judaizers, Peter implicitly was supporting their claim that Christ was not sufficient for salvation. Compromise is an important element in getting along with others, but we should never compromise the truth of God’s Word. If we feel we have to change our Christian beliefs to match those of our companions, we are on dangerous ground.

[Maggz]

Peter had had the vision from heaven in Joppa, when God clearly showed him that Gentiles were to be treated on the same level as Jews, and no longer to be regarded as "unclean."  Paul feels that Peter is turning his back on God's message, and this needs to be settled in public debate.

Peter still recognized the authority of the Jews in Jerusalem, and preferred to conform to their beliefs.

The central issue was the division that was being drawn between the Gentiles and the Jews, and the fact that it was felt that Gentiles who wished to become Christians should conform to the Jewish dietary laws and also become circumcised first.

With the coming of Jesus, the prophecies about the coming Messiah had been fulfilled, and therefore the old law, with its myriad regulations, had been set aside.   Christians are dependent on grace, as we accept that in dying for our sins, Christ has redeemed us.   Therefore, we are no longer trying to achieve our own salvation by keeping the Law.

[Irmela]

Q2. (Galatians 2:11-16) Why does Paul call out Peter publicly in Antioch?

What is the reason for Peter's hypocrisy? What is the central issue on which Paul feels they must not compromise? Why is it so important?

Peter was not acting the same as before his "peers" arrived. This kind of behaviour was necessary to be blocked and sorted out immediately before taking root. The best was thus to approach the matter head-on.. 

We are all equal, all are one in Christ. There is not a Jew or Gentile, but Brothers in Christ. We are all saved by Grace not because one obeyed the letter of the law better than the next one did or because one was a Jew or "better" sinner than the next one. Not of works lest anyone should boast. 

[Krissi]

Why does Paul call out Peter publicly in Antioch?

Paul could have approached Peter privately to talk about his concerns, yet he chose a public forum which demeaned and belittled Peter. Why did he do this? My guess why Paul's rebuke was made publicly because Peter's behavior had had public/church-wide ramifications, gentile Christians had been feeling hurt and rejected by their Jewish brethren, and Jewish leaders had not done anything about it and were, in fact, perpetuating a two-tiered version of Christianity.

What is the reason for Peter's hypocrisy? 

I don't know the sequence of events but at some point in the book of Acts Peter had a vision in which animals were lowered on a blanket before him. He was commanded (by God?) to kill those animals and eat them. Peter refused because of Jewish laws that rendered those animals unclean. This was repeated three times. In the end, God told him to not consider things unclean which He has said were clean. 

What is the central issue on which Paul feels they must not compromise? 

This is the central issue -- although they knew that the old laws that had to do with unclean/clean had been abrogated by Christ, and that gentiles were now full members of the body of Christ, prior habits borne from a sense of superiority lingered among the Jewish leaders of the new church. Paul sensed the corrosive nature of a two-tiered Christianity and nixed it before it became deeply rooted. Had he not done this, Christianity could have developed into two religions, with gentile-Christians becoming the "Samaritans."

Why is it so important?

One of the most important social implications of the Christian faith is the idea we are all equal or one, that in the body of Christ we may have a different function but not a different status.