2:1Next through fourteen years, again I ascended into Jerusalem with Barnabas, having taken Titus also together with (me), .2but I ascended according to revelation, and I put-up-from-myself to them the good-message which I herald-forth among the Gentiles, but privately to the (people) considering, lest-somehow I may run or I ran into emptiness, .3but not-even Titus, the (person) together with me being a Greek, was constrained to be circumcised,
Paul continues documenting his activities to the churches of Galatia: next through 14 years (having passed-through all that happened during these years), I again, my third time, went-up into Jerusalem where the 'headquarters' of the apostles is, in company and association with Barnabas, having taken Titus along in conjunction with me also.
These apostles (holy-people having been sent-forth on assigned specific mission(s) by God or by the Lord Jesus Christ) were of the Judean/Israeli background. Did Paul travel to Jerusalem just for the fun of it, or did he go on vacation, or because he felt so good or so bad about what was happening within the church as a whole at that time in the walk/behavior category? No! Paul explains: I went-up to Jerusalem in accordance with revelation (what was uncovered or revealed to me made-known via my holy spirit-life by God or by the Lord Jesus Christ, as though removing a veil to expose what had previously been hidden from me pertaining to that situation).
And, when I arrived in Jerusalem, I put-up-from-myself to them the good-message (I placed or set upward before them, held-up, declared and clearly set-forth to them the gospel, the evangel) which I presently and actively herald-forth among the Gentiles (I proclaim among people of nations other-than Israel, different ethnic groups from Israelites/Judeans, who have not yet believed what God says regarding the Lord Jesus Christ and thus they have not yet received the gift of holy spirit and become part of the church of God).
But I declared the good-message privately (according to our own selves, by ourselves, aside from everybody else) to those holy-people who are considering (supposing, the people having the responsibility to consider all matters within the church – being by ourselves allowed the 'leaders' to concentrate on the good-message which I herald-forth). I did that lest in some manner (so that in no way) I would run (hasten, hurry, quickly-move) at that time, or had previously ran, into or resulting-in emptiness (becoming vain, void, empty of contents having no effect regarding this trip to Jerusalem).
Paul did what he was asked to do by revelation properly and right-on with God's intention/will so that he would not give any cause of jeopardizing his mission to them at that time. He writes: but contrary to running or having run into emptiness during that time in Jerusalem with the holy-people (sanctified-people, Christians, saints, children of God), not-even Titus, being a Greek-person (of the Gentile background) who traveled with me, was constrained (compelled, caused to necessitate by persuasion or by force) to be circumcised (cut-around and remove the foreskin, prepuce). Circumcision is physically cutting the foreskin off from the rest of the person's flesh which necessitated the shedding of that person's blood while cutting but afterwards being healed and not having to deal with that flesh anymore
Some people must have been of the opinion that Paul's trip to Jerusalem at that time would end up being a trip made in vain and that the Jerusalem Christians would force Titus to be circumcised in accordance with the covenant of law which had incorporated circumcision to be part of it. Paul's good-message would of course include that holy spirit-life is graciously given by God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ at the moment a person believes what God says about Himself and the Lord Jesus Christ. This is part of the covenant which was promised even before the law or circumcision was instituted. The doing of the law of Moses and fleshy circumcision today is not a requirement of this covenant of spirit.
[Reference: Acts chapter 15; Romans 10:4; I Corinthians 9:24-27; II Corinthians 3:6; II Thessalonians 3:1.]
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