No — Paul deliberately stood his ground so the truth of the gospel would continue with the Gentiles.
In Galatians 2:5, Paul says he did not give place by subjection for even an hour, 'that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.' Les Feldick explains that yielding would have forced Gentile believers under the Mosaic system and destroyed the gospel of grace. Paul's refusal was therefore essential to the preservation of the gospel for Gentiles.
Galatians 2:5 — Paul states he did not yield for an hour so the truth of the gospel might continue with his Gentile converts — the direct answer to the question.
Paul's own testimony in Galatians 2:5 is direct: 'To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.' He had been under pressure from Jerusalem leaders, but he records that he did not yield for even one hour. The stated purpose of his refusal was the continuation of the truth of the gospel among the believers he was writing to — the Galatian Gentiles. Scripture gives no other motive: Paul's stand was for the gospel itself.
Les Feldick drives home the stakes of Paul's refusal. He says that if Peter had not come to Paul and Barnabas' defense, the other Jews would have squashed them and stopped Christianity in its tracks. Paul, however, declares, 'I did not give in. I stood my ground.' Les notes that the Jerusalem leaders seemed to be 'somewhat' in the eyes of men, but they did not realize that the Jewish program was slipping away and the Gentile program was ascending. If they had succeeded in putting Paul down, our chances for salvation would have been none. Les emphasizes that Paul's stand, under the sovereign God of all grace, preserved the gospel we know today. He also points out that after the Jerusalem council, Paul was free to continue his Gentile ministry while Peter, James, and John continued with Israel.
Les Feldick says plainly that if Paul had given in to the Jerusalem leaders, the Gentile believers would have had to submit to the Mosaic system, and Christianity would have died. He pictures the whole gospel of grace hanging in the balance: if Paul had yielded, 'our gospel as we now know it would have died.' But God, the sovereign God of all grace, would not allow it.
Les explains that Paul is referring to the Jerusalem leaders, especially the twelve. They were highly regarded, but they were not realizing that the whole Jewish program was slipping away from them and the Gentile program was ascending. Paul says they 'seemed to be somewhat,' but they did not understand the transition God was bringing about.
Les addresses the common discussion over Paul going to Jerusalem despite warnings. He says he has to conclude that Paul got to Jerusalem because God intended it. There Paul made his final move to the nation of Israel, and Israel made their final decree to set him aside.
Les explains that the twelve apostles stayed in Jerusalem because Peter understood that he had no ministry to the Gentiles until Israel's king was in place. This helps explain why the Jerusalem leaders were still tied to the Jewish program and why Paul had to stand alone for the Gentile gospel.
Les describes the outcome: Paul would continue his ministry among the Gentiles, and Peter, James, and John would continue dealing with the Jew. They would no longer force Paul to practice legalism and circumcision. Their only request was that Paul and Barnabas remember the poor.
Paul's Apostolic Authority
Les defends Paul's apostleship, showing why Paul could speak with authority against the Jerusalem leaders.
Standing for the Truth of the Gospel
Les reads Galatians 2:5 and explains that Paul stood his ground so the truth of the gospel might continue; the Jerusalem leaders were unaware their Jewish program was ending.
What Was at Stake for Gentiles
If Paul had been stopped, our chances for salvation would have been zero; Paul withstood pressure so the gospel of grace could reach the Gentile world.
Not Giving In for a Minute
Paul didn't give in for even an 'hour' — meaning he didn't give in for a minute — so the truth of the gospel might continue with the Galatian Gentiles.
Paul's Final Move to Israel
Les addresses why Paul went to Jerusalem despite warnings; he sees it as God's plan for Paul to make his final move to Israel.
Why the Twelve Stayed in Jerusalem
The twelve stayed in Jerusalem because Peter had no Gentile ministry until Israel's king was in place, explaining the Jerusalem leaders' focus on the Jewish program.
The Gospel Hanging in the Balance
If Paul had given in, the gospel we know would have died; God in sovereignty preserved it through Paul's refusal.
The Jerusalem Agreement
After the Jerusalem council, Paul continued to the Gentiles while Peter, James, and John dealt with Israel; only remembering the poor was asked.
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.
Paul's explicit statement that he did not yield for an hour so the truth of the gospel might continue with his converts.
Galatians 2:10: Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
The Jerusalem leaders asked only that Paul and Barnabas remember the poor, showing the extent of the agreement.
Paul refused because the truth of the gospel had to continue with the Gentiles. In Galatians 2:5 he says he did not yield for an hour so that the truth of the gospel might continue with his Gentile converts. Les Feldick adds that yielding would have put Gentile believers under the Mosaic law and destroyed the gospel of grace.
Les Feldick says the Gentile gospel would have died. The Jewish believers at Jerusalem wanted to stop Paul's ministry among the Gentiles, and if they had succeeded, our chances for salvation would have been none. God would not allow it.
From Les's teaching, the truth of the gospel is the gospel of grace that Paul preached among the Gentiles — salvation by grace through faith without the works of the law. Paul stood so that this message would continue to go to the Gentile world.
Les says they did not. They seemed to be somewhat, but they did not realize their Jewish program was slipping away and the Gentile program was ascending. It was a transition they did not see.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Warned About "Another Jesus" — 2 Corinthians 11:4