What was Peter's problem when Paul confronted him?
Peter's problem was that he failed to recognize he was no longer under the law and was free to eat and converse with Gentiles. Even at Antioch, when Jews arrived from Jerusalem, he withdrew from Gentile fellowship out of fear of their criticism, so Paul opposed him to his face because he stood blamed.
Les teaches that the confrontation is found in Galatians chapter 2, where Paul withstood Peter to the face because he was to be blamed. Peter's problem was that he just couldn't recognize he was no longer under the law and was now free to eat with Gentiles and converse with Gentiles. It still bothered him. In Galatians chapter 2, while visiting the Gentile church at Antioch, Peter evidently had been going in and eating with those Gentiles, but as soon as some Jews came up from Jerusalem, he withdrew because he was afraid of what the Jews might say. Les points out that this shows these are normal people, and Peter was not yet fully convinced Paul was on the right track.
More Questions
Why did Paul confront Peter in Galatians 2?
Paul and Peter had their confrontation in Galatians 2 because Peter could not get Israel's separation mindset out of his system; he could eat with Gentile believers at Antioch, but when his fellow Jews came from Jerusalem he withdrew.
Why did Paul and Peter have a confrontation in Galatians 2?
Paul and Peter's confrontation in Galatians 2 happened because Peter could not get out of his system that he could associate with Gentile believers, and he withdrew when Jews came from Jerusalem.
What was the last recorded encounter between Peter and Paul?
The last recorded encounter between Peter and Paul was a confrontation, not a friendly meeting.