Philip Dampier's Blog

“(for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles),” (Gal. 2:8) NASBU Just what we’ve been saying, isn’t it? Paul brings God into it. God is the He of this verse. God worked effectually in the spreading of…

“But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised …” (Gal. 1:7) Paul says he is entrusted with the gospel and Peter had been entrusted to the gospel but each was to preach to a…

“But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me: God show no partiality) — well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.” (Gal. 2:6) Paul had received his good news information directly from the Holy Spirit after Paul’s encounter with Jesus…

“But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.” (Gal. 2:3) Paul comes to Jerusalem to explain his teaching to the leaders there. His work has been among the Gentiles while they have been working with the Jews. Paul brings two…

“It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running or had run, in vain.” (Gal. 2:2) Paul…

“Then after an interval of fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.” (Gal. 2:1) Paul skips a lot of time from his visit with Peter and his next trip to Jerusalem. He had not been sitting around but his travels had taken him…

“(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.)” (Gal. 1:20) Our first thought might be, why is Paul making this statement to churches who know him well enough to be convinced of his truthfulness. This is a solemn oath. Paul…

“Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.” (Gal. 1:18, 19) Some say Paul spent these three years in the desert and others…

“But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up…

“For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.”…