The Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles would have perished if the Jewish believers in Jerusalem had succeeded in stopping Paul's ministry.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul's stand was the hinge on which the Gentile gospel hung. If Paul had given in to the pressure to make Gentiles follow the Mosaic system, Christianity would have died and the gospel as we know it would have been finished. Because Paul did not yield even for an hour, the truth of the gospel was able to continue with Gentile believers.
Galatians 2:5 — Paul declares that he did not give place by subjection even for an hour so that the truth of the gospel might continue — the exact point at stake in this question.
Galatians 2:2 — Paul communicated to the Jerusalem leaders the specific gospel he preached among the Gentiles, showing the unique message he was determined to preserve.
Acts 22:21-22 — The Jewish crowd rioted at the word 'Gentile,' showing how fiercely Paul's Gentile mission was opposed.
Galatians 2 records Paul's journey to Jerusalem, where he went up by revelation and communicated to the leaders 'that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles.' Paul declared that he did not give place by subjection 'no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.' The Scripture shows Paul's apostolic commitment to a gospel that was being assailed by those who wanted to impose the law on Gentile converts. In Acts 22, Paul tells the Jerusalem crowd that the Lord said to him, 'Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.' At that word, the crowd lifted up their voices and demanded that such a fellow be removed from the earth.
Les Feldick shows that the Jerusalem believers were pressuring Paul to make Gentile converts submit to circumcision and the law of Moses. When Paul went to Jerusalem, he communicated 'that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles' — wording that reveals it was not the same message Peter preached. Les says that if the Jerusalem leaders had convinced Paul that Gentile believers had to be subject to the Mosaic system, Christianity would have died and our gospel as we know it would have died. The only reason we have the Gospel of grace is that Paul stood his ground and did not give in, even for an hour. The Jerusalem leaders 'seemed to be somewhat' but did not realize that the Jewish program was slipping away while the Gentile program was ascending. Jewish believers kept insisting that Gentiles could not be saved unless they became proselytes, yet Paul would not surrender the truth of the gospel for the Gentile world.
Les Feldick puts it plainly: if the Jerusalem leaders had convinced Paul that Gentile believers had to subject themselves to the Mosaic system, Christianity would have died and our gospel as we know it would have died. If Peter had not come to Paul and Barnabas' defense, the rest of the Jews would have squashed them, stopping Christianity in its tracks and cutting off the Gentile world from the Gospel of Grace. Paul did not give in for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel might continue with the Gentiles.
Jewish believers in Jerusalem were still maintaining that Gentiles could not be saved unless they became proselytes of Judaism. Certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed said it was needful to circumcise the Gentile believers and command them to keep the law of Moses. They called Paul down to Jerusalem to answer for the gospel he preached among the Gentiles.
Paul's testimony that the Lord said, 'Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles' threw the Jewish crowd into an uproar. At the very word 'Gentile,' they cried out that it was not fit for Paul to live. Israel had completely rejected her role as God's vehicle to reach the Gentiles, and they fought Paul every inch of the way.
Paul communicated to the Jerusalem leaders 'that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles' — language Les says would not have been used if Paul were preaching the same thing Peter did. The twelve, meanwhile, remained in Jerusalem because their ministry was to the Jew until the covenant program was fulfilled. Paul's refusal to give in allowed the Gospel of Grace to continue going to the Gentile world.
Paul's Distinct Gospel to the Gentiles
Paul went to Jerusalem and communicated 'that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles' — a message distinct from Peter's, showing why Jewish pressure to change it was so dangerous.
The Gospel Would Have Died
If the Jerusalem leaders had convinced Paul that Gentile believers must submit to the Mosaic system, Christianity would have died; Paul did not give in so the truth of his gospel might continue.
Paul Stood His Ground
Peter's defense kept the Jerusalem Jews from squashing Paul and Barnabas; Paul did not give in for an hour, but the leaders did not realize the Jewish program was slipping away while the Gentile program was ascending.
Jews Rioted at the Word 'Gentile'
Israel had rejected its role as God's vehicle to reach the Gentiles and fought Paul every inch of the way, showing the intensity of opposition to his Gentile ministry.
Why We Have the Gospel of Grace
The Jerusalem believers insisted Gentiles had to become proselytes, but Paul stood his ground; we can thank God for the Gospel of grace because Paul did not give in.
Jerusalem's Law-Based Demand
Believing Pharisees in Jerusalem said it was needful to circumcise Gentile believers and command them to keep the law of Moses, showing the pressure Paul faced.
The Twelve Stayed in Jerusalem
The twelve remained in Jerusalem because their ministry was to the Jew, providing background to the contrast with Paul's separate Gentile commission.
The Crowd Rejected the Gentile Mission
Paul's announcement that the Lord would send him far hence to the Gentiles threw the Jewish crowd into an uproar; they would have torn him apart if not for Roman authorities.
Galatians 2:2: And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Paul's Jerusalem visit centered on the specific gospel he preached to the Gentiles, not a repetition of Peter's message.
Galatians 2:5: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
This is the biblical anchor for Paul's refusal to yield, showing the very purpose of his stand was the continuation of the gospel.
Acts 22:21: And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
Paul's commission to the Gentiles was the flashpoint that ignited the Jerusalem mob.
Acts 22:22: And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
The Jewish crowd's violent reaction shows how completely the Gentile ministry was opposed.
Les Feldick says Christianity would have died and the gospel as we know it would have died. Paul did not give in even for an hour, so the truth of the gospel could continue with the Gentile believers.
Yes. Certain believing Pharisees in Jerusalem insisted that Gentile believers had to be circumcised and commanded to keep the law of Moses, and they pressured Paul to agree.
Paul's stand preserved the Gospel of Grace for the Gentile world. If he had yielded, the Gentile program would have been crushed by the Jewish program, and the truth of the gospel would not have continued.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Gospel to Gentiles Is Different From Peter's