Galatians 2:4

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 there because of a revelation and presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so only in a private meeting with the influential people, to make sure that I was not running – or had not run – in vain. 3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves. 5But we did not surrender to them even for a moment, in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6But from those who were influential (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people) – those influential leaders added nothing to my message.

Galatians 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 am confident in the Lord that you will accept no other view. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.
• Acts 15:1Now some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
• Acts 20:30Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truth to draw the disciples away after 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 determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
• 2 Timothy 3:6For some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions.
• 2 Peter 2:1But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves.
• Jude 1:4For certain men have secretly slipped in among you – men who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe – ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
• Galatians 3:23Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed.
• Galatians 5:1For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.
• Psalms 51:12Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey!
• Psalms 119:45I will be secure, for I seek your precepts.
• John 8:31Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples
• 2 Corinthians 3:17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.
• 1 Peter 2:16Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God’s slaves.
• 2 Peter 2:19Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, 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

• Barnabas
• Bigotry
• Circumcision
• Heresy
• Law
• Minister, Christian
• Spies

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Jesus
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Christ, Jesus
• Add
• Blame
• Bondage
• Circumcision
• Conference

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