Who were the people Paul meant in Galatians 2:14 when he said they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel?
The people Paul meant were Peter, Barnabas, and other Jews. They walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel. Paul confronted Peter before them all, challenging the inconsistency of living after the manner of Gentiles while still compelling Gentiles to live as Jews, which was two-faced conduct.
Les teaches that Paul was speaking about Peter, Barnabas, and other Jews. The text says, 'But when I saw that they'—Peter, Barnabas, and these other Jews—'walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel.' Paul then said to Peter before them all, 'If thou being a Jew'—which Peter and Barnabas were—if you live after the manner of Gentiles, if you admit that the grace of God has set you free from the Law and do not as the Jews, why are you being two-faced? If grace sets everybody free from the Law, why do you still compel Gentiles to live as Jews? Les applies the same concept today: the rhetoric may differ, but the concept is the same. People add things that do not belong to the gospel of grace, and then they wonder why people have a hard time comprehending it. It is confusion.
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
More Questions
What is the 'truth of the gospel' in Galatians 2:14 that Peter was not walking according to?
The 'truth of the gospel' that Peter was not walking according to is Paul's gospel, the gospel of grace, which now sets believers free from dietary rules and regulations.
Why does Paul accuse Peter of being two-faced in Galatians 2:14?
Paul's charge is that if Peter lives after the manner of Gentiles and admits God's grace has set him free from the Law, then he is being two-faced.
What does 'the truth of the gospel' mean in Galatians 2?
The truth of the gospel that Paul refers to is Paul's gospel, the gospel of grace.