Galatians 2:14
What does Galatians 2:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 2:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 2:14 means
Paul, seeing that their conduct was not in step with the gospel’s truth, addressed Cephas publicly. His question exposes the contradiction: if a Jew like Cephas could live freely like a Gentile when among them, how could he now pressure Gentiles to adopt Jewish customs? The gospel levels distinctions regarding access to God; to reintroduce them as necessary for full fellowship is to deny what Christ accomplished. Public sin that misleads others required public correction, not for humiliation, but to realign the community with the grace that makes one family in Christ.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Cephas before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
KJV
King James Version · 1611But 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?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Cephas before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But when I saw that they were not living uprightly in agreement with the true words of the good news, I said to Cephas before them all, If you, being a Jew, are living like the Gentiles, and not like the Jews, how will you make the Gentiles do the same as the Jews?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862But when I saw that they are not walking uprightly to the truth of the good news, I said to Peter before all, `If thou, being a Jew, in the manner of the nations dost live, and not in the manner of the Jews, how the nations dost thou compel to Judaize?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But when I saw that they walked not uprightly unto the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all: If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles and not as the Jews do, how dost thou compel the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But when I saw that they do not walk straightforwardly, according to the truth of the glad tidings, I said to Peter before all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as the nations and not as the Jews, how dost thou compel the nations to Judaize?
Context
This is the turning point from narrative to theology. Paul’s challenge frames the core issue: consistency with the gospel’s implications for fellowship. With the question posed, verses 15–16 state the doctrinal basis—that justification is by faith in Jesus Christ, not works of the law. Verses 17–21 then anticipate objections and explain the life that flows from this truth: dying to the law, living to God, and being united with Christ by faith.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 141:5
Let the righteous smite me, it shall bea kindness; And let him reprove me, it shall be asoil upon the head; Let not my head refuse it: For even in their wickedness shall my prayer continue.
- Hebrews 9:10
being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
- Proverbs 2:7
He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; He isa shield to them that walk in integrity;
- Galatians 2:7
but contrariwise, when they saw that I had been intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the gospel of the circumcision
- 1 Timothy 5:20
Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.
- Psalms 58:1
Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
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