Christian Standard Bible
Galatians 2:4
4This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us.
Galatians 2:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
- New International Version (NIV)This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—
- New King James Version (NKJV)And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),
Context of Galatians 2:4
2I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those recognized as leaders. I wanted to be sure I was not running, and had not been running, in vain. 3But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us. 5But we did not give up and submit to these people for even a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you. 6Now from those recognized as important (what they once were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism) — they added nothing to me.
Read all of Galatians 2Galatians 2:4 word by word
διὰ δὲ τοὺς παρεισάκτους ψευδαδέλφους, οἵτινες παρεισῆλθον κατασκοπῆσαι τὴν ἐλευθερίαν ἡμῶν ἣν ἔχομεν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, ἵνα ἡμᾶς καταδουλώσουσιν,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And thatδέde · thenG1161
- because ofδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- false brethrenψευδάδελφοςpseudadelphos · false brotherG5569
- unawares brought inπαρείσακτοςpareisaktos · infiltratedG3920
- whoὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
- came in privilyπαρεισέρχομαιpareiserchomai · to come inG3922
- to spy outκατασκοπέωkataskopeō · to spyG2684
- ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- libertyὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- libertyἐλευθερίαeleutheria · freedomG1657
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- we haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- they might bringκαταδουλόωkatadouloō · to enslaveG2615
Cross-references for Galatians 2:4
- Galatians 5:10I myself am persuaded in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.
- Acts 15:1Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.”
- Acts 20:30Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
- 1 John 4:1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- 2 Timothy 3:6For among them are those who worm their way into households and deceive gullible women overwhelmed by sins and led astray by a variety of passions,
- 2 Peter 2:1There were indeed false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves.
- Jude 1:4For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
- Galatians 3:23Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.
- Galatians 5:1For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.
- Psalms 51:12Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
- Psalms 119:45I will walk freely in an open place because I study your precepts.
- John 8:31Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples.
- 2 Corinthians 3:17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
- 1 Peter 2:16Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.
- 2 Peter 2:19They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.
Commentaries on Galatians 2:4
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4And that because of false brethren - Who these false brethren were is not certainly known, nor is it known whether he refers to those who were at Jerusalem or to those who were at Antioch. It is probable that he refers to Judaizing Christians, or persons who claimed to be Christians and to have been converted from Judaism. Whether they were dissemblers and hypocrites, or whether they were so imperfectly acquainted with Christianity, and so obstinate…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Paul called some supposed believers false, saying they were not Christians. They did not understand or truly accept the good news about Jesus, unlike the apostles in Jerusalem (2:3). had come in under false pretenses: Paul suggests that a larger group of Jewish "Christians" opposed his preaching (see Acts 15:5) and supported the false teachers who joined the church. Requiring non-Jewish Christians to follow Jewish law would trap them in rules and deny the…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. And that--that is, What I did concerning Titus (namely, by not permitting him to be circumcised) was not from contempt of circumcision, but "on account of the false brethren" (Ac 15:1, 24) who, had I yielded to the demand for his being circumcised, would have perverted the case into a proof that I deemed circumcision necessary. unawares--"in an underhand manner brought in." privily--stealthily. to spy out--as foes in the guise of friends, wishing to…Read the comment
Topics related to Galatians 2:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Galatians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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