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

2Because of a revelation, I went up and presented to them the Good News that I proclaim among the Gentiles. But I did so privately to those who seemed to be influential, to make sure I would not run—or had not run—in vain. 3Yet not even Titus who was with me, a Greek, was forced to be circumcised. Now this issue came up because of false brothers secretly brought in (who slipped in to spy out our freedom in Messiah, in order to bring us into bondage). 5But we did not give in to them even for a moment, so that the truth of the Good News might be preserved for you. 6But from those who seemed to be influential (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those influential ones 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 not think otherwise. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever he is.
• Acts 15:1Now some men coming down from Judea were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
• Acts 20:30Even from among yourselves will arise men speaking perversions, to draw the disciples away after themselves.
• 2 Corinthians 11:13For such men are false emissaries, deceitful workers masquerading as Messiah’s emissaries.
• 1 John 4:1Loved ones, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
• 2 Timothy 3:6For among these are those who slip into households and deceive weak women weighed down with sins, led away by various desires,
• 2 Peter 2:1But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies. They will even deny the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
• Jude 1:4For certain people have secretly slipped in—those who from long ago have been marked out for this judgment. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into indecency and deny our only Master and Lord, Yeshua the Messiah.
• Galatians 3:23Now before faith came, we were being guarded under Torah—bound together until the coming faith would be revealed.
• Galatians 5:1For freedom, Messiah set us free—so stand firm, and do not be burdened by a yoke of slavery again.
• Psalms 51:12Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
• Psalms 119:45and walk about in freedom. For I have sought Your precepts.
• John 8:31Then Yeshua said to the Judeans who had trusted Him, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly My disciples.
• 2 Corinthians 3:17Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Ruach Adonai is, there is freedom.
• 1 Peter 2:16Live as free people, but not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Rather, live as God’s slaves.
• 2 Peter 2:19They promise them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption—for a person is a slave to whatever has overcome him.

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