Galatians 2:4 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:
Galatians 2:4 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),
Galatians 2:4 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.
Galatians 2:4 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 ?
Galatians 2:4 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.
Galatians 2 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| False Teachers / Infiltrators | ||
| 2 Cor 11:26 | "in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;" | Peril from deceptive insiders |
| Phil 3:2 | "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision." | Warning against those promoting circumcision |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies..." | Stealthy introduction of destructive teachings |
| Jude 1:4 | "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men..." | Ungodly individuals who slipped in |
| Acts 15:1 | "And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." | The core legalistic teaching confronted |
| Christian Liberty / Freedom | ||
| Gal 5:1 | "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." | Call to maintain freedom in Christ |
| Gal 5:13 | "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." | Freedom for loving service, not sin |
| Rom 6:18 | "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." | Freedom from sin to serve righteousness |
| Rom 8:2 | "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." | Liberation by the Spirit from sin's law |
| 1 Cor 7:22 | "For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant." | Freedom and servitude in Christ |
| John 8:32 | "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." | Truth leads to freedom |
| John 8:36 | "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." | Christ is the source of true freedom |
| Bondage / Slavery (to Law/Sin) | ||
| Gal 3:23 | "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed." | Law held us captive until faith came |
| Gal 4:3 | "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:" | Spiritual infancy under elemental forces |
| Gal 4:9 | "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" | Return to beggarly elements equals bondage |
| Rom 6:6-7 | "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." | Deliverance from sin's power and service |
| Rom 7:6 | "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." | Released from the Law to serve in the Spirit |
| Heb 2:15 | "And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." | Deliverance from bondage of death-fear |
| Defense of the Gospel | ||
| Gal 2:5 | "To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." | Paul's firm refusal to yield |
| Phil 1:7 | "Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace." | Defense and confirmation of the gospel |
| Jude 1:3 | "ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." | Contending for the foundational faith |
Galatians 2 verses
Galatians 2 4 Meaning
Galatians 2:4 reveals the true motivation behind the insistence of certain individuals on circumcising Gentile believers and observing the Mosaic Law. It explains that these were "false brethren" who covertly infiltrated the Christian community not to seek genuine truth or fellowship, but to "spy out" the spiritual freedom believers have in Christ Jesus. Their ultimate aim was to subject these free believers to legalistic "bondage" under the Law, thereby undermining the core truth of salvation by grace through faith.
Galatians 2 4 Context
Galatians chapter 2 recounts Paul's journey to Jerusalem after fourteen years, to present his gospel to the church leaders there – Peter, James, and John. This private meeting was crucial for verifying the universal nature of the gospel preached to the Gentiles, which excluded the requirement of circumcision and Mosaic Law observance for salvation. The preceding verses set the stage for Paul's insistence on protecting this gospel. Galatians 2:4 specifically identifies the underlying threat and reason for Paul's unyielding stance against any compromise. Historically, the early church grappled significantly with the "Judaizer" controversy: a group, typically Jewish believers, who maintained that Gentile converts needed to be circumcised and adhere to aspects of the Mosaic Law to be truly saved. This verse pins down these individuals as infiltrators with a sinister agenda.
Galatians 2 4 Word analysis
- And that because of: Links the previous discussion about the unity between Paul's Gentile gospel and the Jerusalem apostles' message (implicitly, Gal 2:2-3, regarding Titus not being compelled to be circumcised) to the source of conflict. It explains why the confrontation happened.
- false brethren (ψευδάδελφοι - pseudadelphoi): A compound word from pseudes (false, lying) and adelphos (brother). These individuals presented themselves as genuine members of the Christian community, using the veneer of fellowship, but were fundamentally opposed to the true gospel. They were not just misguided; their intentions and doctrines were deceitful, resembling traitors from within. This highlights a deep deception.
- unawares brought in / secretly brought in (παρεισάκτους - pareisaktous / παρεισήλθον - pareiselthon): Pareisaktous refers to those who are "surreptitiously introduced" or "secretly brought in." Pareiselthon means "they slipped in alongside" or "came in stealthily." This implies their entry into the Christian fellowship was cunning, under false pretenses, and not through open or legitimate means. They infiltrated, like agents, without invitation or sincere purpose, but with a hidden agenda.
- who came in privily / who slipped in: Reinforces the secretive and cunning nature of their entry. Their approach was not transparent or honest, suggesting a deceptive purpose from the outset.
- to spy out (κατασκοπῆσαι - kataskopēsai): Derived from kata (down, against) and skopeō (to look, observe). This term signifies hostile reconnaissance. They weren't seeking to learn or join but to meticulously observe weaknesses, vulnerable points, or perceived deviations from their legalistic standard. Their motive was not innocent curiosity but to find leverage for their subversive goal, similar to spies gathering intelligence for an enemy.
- our liberty (τὴν ἐλευθερίαν - tēn eleutherian): Refers to the spiritual freedom believers experience through Christ. This freedom encompasses deliverance from the condemnation and curse of the Mosaic Law (Gal 3:13), from the power of sin (Rom 6:6), and from the bondage of religious rituals and rules as a means of salvation. It is freedom from earning salvation through works and liberation to serve God by grace.
- which we have in Christ Jesus (ἣν ἔχομεν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ - hēn echomen en Christō Iēsou): This crucial phrase specifies the source and nature of true Christian liberty. It is not an unrestrained license to sin, but a freedom found and defined within the new covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. This emphasizes that genuine freedom is intrinsically linked to one's union with Christ and His finished work on the cross.
- that they might bring us into bondage (ἵνα ἡμᾶς καταδουλωσουσιν - hina hēmas katadoulōsōsin / δουλῶσαι - douloōsai): Their ultimate, insidious objective was to "enslave" believers. Katadoulōsōsin emphasizes severe or complete subjugation. By compelling circumcision and Law observance, these false brethren sought to pull believers away from the gospel of grace back into a state of slavery under the demands of the Mosaic Law, making them debtors to fulfill the entire Law and nullifying Christ's redemptive work as their means of justification.
Galatians 2 4 Bonus section
The subtle yet insidious nature of these "false brethren" highlights a perennial challenge within the church: external threats are often more easily identified than internal deceptions. Their clandestine entry and espionage suggest they did not openly declare their opposing views but rather observed, gathered information, and then used it to push their agenda, leading to potential division and corruption of doctrine. This underscores the necessity for spiritual discernment within the community of faith, not merely to identify outright heretics but to recognize those who, though seemingly "brethren," operate with motives contrary to the gospel's truth. Paul's unwavering defense (as seen in the following verse, Gal 2:5) shows that theological battles are not just intellectual exercises but critical stands for the eternal destiny of souls and the glory of Christ's perfect redemption.
Galatians 2 4 Commentary
Galatians 2:4 illuminates the perilous battle Paul waged to preserve the integrity of the gospel of grace. The "false brethren" were not mere theological opponents but active adversaries, covertly infiltrating the Christian community to subvert its foundational truth. Their method was espionage, and their goal was to strip believers of their freedom in Christ by re-imposing the Old Covenant Law as a requirement for salvation. This verse underscores that the liberty we have in Christ Jesus – freedom from sin, condemnation, and the Law's requirements for justification – is not trivial. It is the very essence of the gospel, bought at the highest price. Paul recognized that to concede to the demands of these legalists would be to deny Christ's finished work and drag believers back into a spiritual prison, thereby making the cross of no effect.