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.
Les explains that James, Cephas—that is, Peter—and John were what he calls the inner sanctum, or the inner core of the twelve, the ones who seemed to be pillars. But Les says this implies they weren’t what they thought they were anymore, because God was changing the program. He was coming out of Judaism and legalism and bringing in the age of grace, so they were no longer the pillars they had assumed themselves to be. At the Jerusalem conference, after Peter acknowledged that God could save Gentiles, they perceived the grace given to Paul and gave him and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, shaking hands in agreement. They agreed 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.
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.
What did James, Peter, and John perceive about Paul's apostleship?
James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace given to Paul, recognizing that he was now to be the primary apostle. They gave Paul and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, agreeing that Paul and Barnabas should go to the Gentiles while they went to the Jews.
More Questions
Who were the pillars mentioned in Galatians 2:9?
The men named in Galatians 2:9 as seeming to be pillars are James, Cephas (that is, Peter), and John, who were the inner core of the twelve.