What does it mean in Galatians 2:4 that the false brethren were "brought in"?
Being “brought in” means the false brethren did not sneak in; influential leaders had something to do with bringing them into the Jerusalem council meeting. Someone influential brought them to confront Paul and Barnabas, so Peter could have been aware. The same word appears in Jude regarding false teaching entering congregations.
Les explains that the phrase “brought in” is significant because they didn’t sneak in; the leaders no doubt had something to do with it. He is a stickler for every word: if “brought” were not there, he could say Peter wasn’t aware of these people, but he thinks Peter was aware because somebody influential brought these false brethren into the great council meeting of the Jewish believers at Jerusalem to confront Paul and Barnabas. Titus can be included if you like, but it was predominantly against Paul and Barnabas. So these false brethren were brought in unawares. Les connects this to Jude, a one-chapter letter just before Revelation, verses 3-4, showing that false teaching slipping into a congregation or denomination is nothing new; the writers of Scripture were already aware of it.
And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
Why did the false brethren spy out the believers' liberty in Galatians 2?
The false brethren spied out the believers' liberty in order to bring them into bondage—back under the law. Having been brought in secretly, they opposed the freedom from the law that believers have in Christ Jesus, seeking to subject Paul, Barnabas, and the Antioch Gentiles to Jewish legal requirements.
Were the Judaizers in Galatians 2 believers in Jesus as Messiah?
Yes, most of the Judaizers in Galatians 2 were believers in Christ as the Messiah, but they still sought to bring Paul back under bondage to the Law, wanting him to require circumcision and observance of the dietary laws and Laws of Moses.
More Questions
Why does Galatians 2:4 say the false brethren were 'brought in' instead of sneaking in?
Galatians 2:4 says the false brethren were 'brought in,' not that they snuck in, which means the leaders no doubt had something to do with their arrival.
Was Peter aware of the false brethren who came into the Jerusalem council?
Peter was aware of these false brethren, because the word "brought" implies somebody influential was responsible for bringing them in.
Where else in the Bible is the same word about false brethren used that Galatians 2:4 uses?
The little book of Jude uses that same word as Galatians 2:4 about false teachers, and Jude is only one chapter long, located just in front of Revelation, in verses 3-4.