Why does Paul say the Jerusalem leaders only "seemed" to be pillars?
The Jerusalem leaders only seemed to be pillars because God was transitioning from Judaism and legalism into the age of grace, so James, Peter, and John were no longer the pillars they had thought themselves to be. They recognized the grace given to Paul and extended fellowship.
Les explains that James, Cephas (Peter), and John were the inner sanctum, or inner core, of the twelve, yet when Paul came to Jerusalem they only “seemed” to be pillars. That implies they weren’t what they thought they were anymore, because God was changing the program—moving out of Judaism and legalism and into the age of grace. At the conference Peter remembered how God had sent him to Cornelius and showed him He could save a Gentile, so Peter agreed Paul was right. Then, when they perceived the grace given to Paul, they gave Paul and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, agreeing that Paul should go to the heathen.
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.
Who were the inner core of the twelve apostles in the Jerusalem church?
James, Cephas (also called Peter), and John formed the inner core of the twelve apostles in the Jerusalem church. They were regarded as pillars, though the account implies they were no longer the pillars they once thought they were as God moved from Judaism and legalism into grace.
What does it mean that James, Cephas, and John 'seemed to be pillars'?
It means James, Cephas (Peter), and John were viewed as the inner core or pillars among the twelve, yet the wording implies they were no longer the pillars they thought they were. God was changing the program, moving from Judaism and legalism into the age of grace.
More Questions
Who were the 'pillars' Paul mentions in Galatians 2:9?
James, Peter, and John are the ones who 'seemed to be pillars' in Galatians 2:9 and who seemingly held the leadership role at Jerusalem.