What was the agreement between Paul and the pillars in Galatians 2?
The pillars gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that Paul and Barnabas would go to the Gentiles while Peter, James, John, and the others continued with the circumcision. The Gentiles would not have to keep Moses' law or be circumcised, but the agreement added that they should remember the poor.
Les explains that those who seemed to be pillars perceived the grace given to Paul and recognized his unique apostleship to the Gentiles. They gave Paul and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, shaking hands on the agreement: Paul and Barnabas would go back to their Gentile field, while Peter, James, John, and the others would stay among the Jews, the circumcision. The agreement had strings attached: Paul could continue preaching to Gentile converts, and those converts would not have to keep the law of Moses or practice circumcision, but they would remember the poor. Les notes that many poor Jews in Jerusalem had sold their property, and after about twenty years the funds had run out, but God would not abandon them.
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.
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.
Who were the 'pillars' who gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship?
James, Peter (also called Cephas), and John, who were considered pillars, understood the grace given to Paul and gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.
Who are the 'pillars' in Galatians 2:9?
James, Peter, and John are the ones described as 'pillars' in Galatians 2:9, having a leadership role in Jerusalem.