It might be helpful, for example, if we had more information about questions such as the following: Why had Peter come to Antioch? The basic meaning of apostolos is messenger, and the New Testament uses it in this sense, particularly when talking about messengers who are sent out representing various branches of the church (e.g., Philippians 2:25). 5 years after the split in Acts 15), we see Paul linking himself to Barnabas, saying that they both had the right to be supported while preaching the Gospel. As such, of course, commentators try to make their own decisions. 597538 BC) and the Maccabean Revolt (ca. What might the Christian learn from this episode? The more specific issues from the law of Moses that the Judaizers seem to be pushing in both Galatia and Antioch, and that Paul is opposing, is that the church, and all who join it, should continue the practices of circumcision and table fellowship. In summary, the Abrahamic covenant was designed to accomplish two tasks: to create a peculiar and holy people who would become a great nation and to bless all the nations of the earth. Table fellowship, in particular, created a wall of isolation for some Jews from Gentiles, particularly those living in the diaspora. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The incident at Antioch was an Apostolic Age dispute between the apostles Paul and Peter which occurred in the city of Antioch around the middle of the first century. While it doesn't answer every question about Peter and Mary Jane's split, the latest issues of Amazing Spider-Man are clearly setting the stage for the explanation of their breakup. Without individuality, faith can become too rigid and uniform. Apparently they approved of Philips work among the Samaritans, because Peter and John came down and conferred the Holy Ghost upon the converts (see Acts 8:1417). Every time Paul mentions Luke, he also mentions Mark (see . When Peter and John stood before the . In appealing to these three meetings, it is also clear that there is an underlying tension in the rhetoric of Pauls description of them. At Mount Sinai, God reiterated that they would be a peculiar treasure [i.e., a treasured possession; Hebrew sgullh] unto me above all people, . In addition, the early Christians continued to worship at the temple (Acts 21:2326). Second, the imperfect tense of the verbs withdrew (Greek hypestellen) and separated himself (Greek aprizen) indicates that Peters withdrawal and separation was done over a period of time. ESV For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. They jointly celebrated their 40th birthdays on Thursday letting their Instagram followers. Perhaps that information included, among other things, Peters reminiscences of Jesus ministry. See also the discussions in Bruce, The Epistle to the Galatians, 10627; Morgado, Paul in Jerusalem, 5568. (And, where would Paul have ended up without the earlier encouragement and support of Barnabas? With language that is closely tied to the opening verse, Paul also defends the veracity of his gospel message: But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. They adopted Greek names, their burial monuments and graves reflect a significant appropriation of Hellenistic forms, their coins begin to have both Greek and Hebrew inscriptions and symbols, and the literature of the time, even if the text berates Hellenism, often reflects strong Greek stylistic influence (e.g., 1 & 2 Maccabees). (I speak much more on this in my New Testament Survey on Mark.). Brigham Young University Two events seemed to shift the momentum. At the heart of the tension between Peter and Paul on this occasion was the issue of table fellowship. When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Thus they would have argued that Peter should continue to live the law of Moses, as did the Christians in Jerusalem. But by Acts 13:4647, Paul shifted his missionary focus to the Gentiles. They are Nigeria's best and most . I have argued elsewhere that this situation is best understood if the Galatian churches consist predominantly of Gentile God-fearers who, prior to being taught the gospel by Paul, were already attracted to the law of Moses. He wanted to walk on water, but almost drowned; he was the last to abandon Jesus and the first to deny Him. [17] Josephus also records the conversion of the royal house of Adiabene in the first century AD (Antiquities of the Jews 20.2.34). Therefore, they were directed not to marry outside of the covenant: For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods (Deuteronomy 7:4) and they were directed to make no league with the inhabitants of this land (Judges 2:2). According to Philo, it was because of their search for the certainty and clearness of truth, and of the worship of the one true and living God (On the Virtues 20.102). [25] B. R. Gaventa, Galatians 1 and 2: Autobiography as Paradigm, Novum Testamentum 28, no. There is no mention of their relationship with James; that is found only in Galatians 2. Pauls missionary work to bear [Christs] name before the Gentiles (Acts 9:15) brought the issue to a head, and Antioch became the test case for two competing approaches. What was the disagreement between Paul and Peter? By Mark Coppenger, Q&A On The Bible / June 20, 2012 'Fought' is an awfully strong word, but these two did have a sharp encounter. a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation (Exodus 19:56; 1 Peter 2:9). 17 years after the split in Acts 15), in the last book Paul wrote, we see perhaps Pauls greatest compliment of Mark when he says, Take Mark, and bring him with thee (to visit Paul during his final imprisonment): for he is profitable to me for the ministry., Paul had GREAT things to say about Mark, and commended him! (This would give it apostolic credibility since Mark was likely not an apostle.) And do not become associates of theirs. (Paul wrote Philemon during his 1st imprisonment at Rome. Then we will discuss the Antioch incident in its larger Galatian context, which includes two other meetings between the two Apostles: Pauls first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion (see Galatians 1:1619) and the Jerusalem Council (see Galatians 2:110; Acts 15:111). In doing so we will first briefly overview the historical interaction between Jews and Gentiles to understand the early churchs reluctance to widen the scope of its missionary activities. 20. For example, not only did the early leaders and members struggle to envision a church that included both Jews and Gentiles, they also struggled with the questions of the doctrinal and practical implications of Gentiles becoming part of the seed of Abraham. .css-tadcwa:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Edifa - @media screen and (max-width: 767px){.css-1xovt06 .date-separator{display:none;}.css-1xovt06 .date-updated{display:block;width:100%;}}published on 06/29/20. Wayne Jackson The seemingly tragic separation of Paul and Barnabas is well known to serious Bible students. That is not to say that he was without flaws: his great ideas often came to nothing. Copyright JesusAlive.cc All rights reserved. Peter, one of the Lord Jesus' very own disciples, saw the Lord and walked with Him for some time. The first time they met in Antioch, where they had a falling out. The Maccabean Revolt championed religious independence, but it did not advocate cultural independence. Just as ancient Saints were not comfortable with the public tension between Christianitys most prominent leaders, neither are modern Saints today. Circumcision and table fellowship are also the two issues that are at the very heart of the tension between Peter and Paul in Antioch and evoked important questions for the early church. The command on the Mount of Olives and in Peters vision to include Gentiles in the missionary work did not give specific instructions for how it was to be carried out. 10 Dec The separation of Paul and Barnabas had always troubled me whenever I read it in Acts 15:39. The early church struggled to envision a church that proselyted both Jews and Gentiles: how would the law of Moses function in such a church, and how would it impact Israels calling as Gods chosen people? Latter-day Saint commentators on this passage acknowledge the tension. On some kind of spiritual test I took a few years ago, I was labeled as a defender. In short, I feel a strong calling to help, defend, and teach the weak, especially in spiritual matters. To encourage him. For example, it explains why Peter seems to be in charge in Acts 15:611 but then falls into the background when James delivers the apostolic decree in Acts 15:1319. Similarly, near the end of the 4th century CE, John Chrysostom would argue that Paul's execution was caused by "those waging war against him" ( On the Praises of Saint Paul 4.15). Answer Paul and Barnabas traveled together through the island of Cyprus and the province of Asia (modern Asia Minor) preaching the gospel in the first missionary journey ( Acts 13 ). The Nigerian duo - Peter and Paul Okoye - fell out over a family dispute, finally splitting in 2017. Therefore Peters actions in Antioch, Pauls response notwithstanding, would not have been a betrayal of guidelines already established by the church. On the one hand, he specifically meets with Peter (and James) when he travels to Jerusalem some three years after his conversion (see Galatians 1:1719); he also acknowledges the importance of Peter, James and John as pillars of the church (2:9); and he seeks their approval for his missionary activities among the Gentiles (2:9). He enjoyed fellowship with all the believers, Jews and Gentiles alike. At the end of that first mission, however, Christian missionaries from Jerusalem (probably Judaizers) came to Antioch criticizing him for not requiring the Gentile converts to be circumcised (15:1). The result was no small dissension and disputation with them (15:2), meaning that there was major contention over the issue. Historically and theologically, Abraham and his descendants, the house of Israel, had been called to enter into a covenant with God that they would be his covenant people. Cephas and Peter, Journal of Biblical Literature 109, no. Paul now moves to address his third meeting with Peter, this time in Antioch. Simon Peter, or Simon the Rock, was unshakable. Two watershed events heightened Israels sense of isolation from the other nations: the Exile (ca. 2:11] &c. Paul does not gain much credit with the Mormons for taking this course. It is also worth noting that according to some scholars, shortly before the split, we may have had the event in (Gal 2:11-21) (Galatians was written in app. It should also be noted that Mark was the cousin of Barnabas.. Arguably the two greatest apostles of Christ, Paul and Peter stand in front of the crowd as the two major witnesses to the faith. But we must not let these issues overshadow the very real efforts that Jews made to bless all the families of the earth (Abraham 2:11; Genesis 12:3; 28:14). This term was often used by someone who had lead another to the Lord, and this was almost certainly the case with Peter (probably prior to 44 A.D.). Paul and Barnabas, as well as others, are sent to Jerusalem to settle the split in the church. . For a discussion on pagan attacks on Jewish circumcision, Sabbath observance, and dietary laws, see Louis H. Feldman, Jew and Gentile in the Ancient World: Attitudes and Interactions from Alexander to Justininian (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993), 15370. The text is unclear as to whether this date was fourteen years after his conversion or after his first visit to Jerusalem. Paul writes, Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also (2:1). 2 (1997): 14346. Ruth, a Moabite, converted to the Abrahamic covenant through Naomi (see Ruth 1:16); Jonah was called to cry repentance to the inhabitants of Ninevah (see Jonah 14); and Isaiah prophetically declared that Israel would be a light to the Gentiles (49:6), that the Gentiles shall come to thy light (60:3), and that the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness (62:2). If we had Peters side of the story, we might be able to gain a more balanced perspective of the event. Finally, it also appears that Paul and Barnabas did make up. Both the proselytes and the God-fearers seem to have been a fruitful source for early Christian missionary activity. What was unshakable in Him was his faith, which doesnt come from flesh and blood, but from the Heavenly Father. But he is quick to note: But other of the apostles saw I none (Galatians 1:19). How Did Jesus Restore Peter? Copyright Aleteia SAS all rights reserved. What's up with that? In recounting Pauls first visit with Peter (Galatians 1:1519), he seems to be trying to correct possible misperceptions . The evidence suggests that there were many levels of attachment. The conversations about their individual roles would always go on. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. Check out what Paul later has to say about Mark. Peter is a simple fisherman; Paul is a sophisticated urbanite. 185 Heber J. [8] The last of these, table fellowship, included not only the dietary restrictions outlined in Leviticus 11, but by the intertestamental period they were expanded to include elements of ritual purity. We believe when Paul rebuked Peter, he had in him a spirit of rebellion, and was decidedly wrong in rebelling against the man who held the keys of the kingdom of God on the earth. In Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. The criticism by Pauls opponents in Galatia, however, is not just about his apostleship. 1 (2008): 99121. Who was right on this issue: Paul or Barnabas? Whereas chapter 1 focuses on Pauls personal credibility, chapter 2 describes his second visit to Jerusalem (Galatians 2:110), but this time the focus is on the credibility of his gospel message to the Gentiles. Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reachmore than 20 million unique users per month! [7] The Maccabean rulers appropriated many Greek cultural traits. Paul met with Peter and other pillars of the Church of Jerusalem twice. 5-15 CE. [26] There are some significant parallels. The incident which Paul recounts is not portrayed as a long-standing debate between himself and Peter; instead, it is reported as proof of Paul's independence as an apostle. As has been documented in the previous chapter, Paul's assertion that Peter came to Antioch before Judas & Silas . Third, by most accounts, Paul was at this time pretty much considered to be Barnabas superior, so Barnabas should have submitted to his authority. [37] Dunn, The Incident at Antioch, 38. For careful discussions on issues, see Feldman, Jew and Gentile, 34282, and Collins, Between Athens and Jerusalem, 26472. How did this come about? Paul begins planning his second missionary journey in late autumn of 49 A.D. Paul himself had been more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers than my equals in mine own nation (1:14). Pauls response is that he received his authority directly from God, not from any human, not even from Peter. So wrote the Apostle Paul to the Galatian Saints. 3:1516; Gal. However, when Barnabas suggested that Mark should go as well, Paul disagreed because of Marks abandonment on the first missionary trip. Yet, without Peters vigilance, there would be no unity. What was Peter thinking as he withdrew and separated himself? The tension in Galatians 2 is broader than the one incident between Peter and Paul; it is between two fundamentally different ways of interpreting Jesus command on the Mount of Olives to expand their missionary activities beyond the house of Israel (see Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8). Clearly, Paul had strong feelings on this topic, and it may well be that, in an effort to convince his readers that they were headed in the wrong direction, he intentionally employed rhetoric that heightened the tension of the Antioch incident. Scholars have long noted that in Pauls Corinthian epistles he uses slogans from his opponents rhetoric. But Paul did not always attain to that ideal himself. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus (his hometown: Acts 4:36). True, the law was indeed a schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, but only so that they could be made righteous or justified by faith (3:24). In addition, Paul indicates that he went up to Jerusalem by revelation, which again reminds readers that his call in Galatians 1:16 continues to be the undergirding moving force of his missionary work. [39] See Gaye Strathearn, Law and Liberty in Galatians 56, in Go Ye into All the World: Messages of the New Testament Apostles (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002), 5962. As part of that covenant, Abraham and his seed were promised two blessings that sometimes stood in tension with each other: that they would become a great nation (Abraham 2:9) and that through them all the families of the earth [would] be blessed (Abraham 2:11; Genesis 12:3). Thus Paul implores them, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage, which he understands to be the law of Moses (Galatians 5:1). 3 (1990): 46374. And over years of constant practice, they have created the best records on the continent.