English Standard Version
Galatians 2:4
4Yet 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—
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.
- 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),
- New Living Translation (NLT)Even that question came up only because of some so-called believers there—false ones, really—who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations.
Context of Galatians 2:4
2I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 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— 5to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential 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 have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.
- Acts 15:1But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."
- Acts 20:30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
- 1 John 4:1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- 2 Timothy 3:6For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,
- 2 Peter 2:1But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
- Jude 1:4For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
- Galatians 3:23Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
- Galatians 5:1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
- Psalms 51:12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
- Psalms 119:45and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.
- John 8:31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
- 2 Corinthians 3:17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
- 1 Peter 2:16Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
- 2 Peter 2:19They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
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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