Galatians 2 8

Galatians 2:8 kjv

(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

Galatians 2:8 nkjv

(for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),

Galatians 2:8 niv

For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.

Galatians 2:8 esv

(for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),

Galatians 2:8 nlt

For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.

Galatians 2 verses

Galatians 2 8 Meaning

Galatians 2:8 affirms the divine commissioning and empowerment behind the ministries of both Peter and Paul. It states that the same God who powerfully enabled Peter's apostolic mission to the Jews (the circumcised) also effectively empowered Paul's apostolic mission to the Gentiles (the uncircumcised). This verse validates the distinct but equally authentic roles of Peter and Paul, emphasizing that their respective successes were not due to human ability but to God's active power. It provides the theological basis for the apostles' recognition of Paul's unique calling.

Galatians 2 8 Context

Galatians chapter 2 details Paul's pivotal visit to Jerusalem, occurring fourteen years after his initial conversion. This visit was not compelled by human authority but undertaken by divine revelation (Gal 2:2). The central issue addressed was the "truth of the gospel" (Gal 2:5), particularly the false teaching that Gentile converts must be circumcised to be saved. Paul describes his private meeting with key apostles—Peter, James, and John—to ensure their agreement on the gospel he preached to the Gentiles. Verse 8 forms a crucial part of Paul's explanation for why the Jerusalem leaders, recognizing God's work, endorsed his Gentile mission and did not compel Gentile converts to be circumcised. It underscores the divine authorization and distinct spheres of apostolic labor, validating Paul's gospel of grace. The broader historical context includes the nascent Christian movement wrestling with its Jewish roots and universal claims, alongside internal theological debates that could splinter the early Church.

Galatians 2 8 Word analysis

• For: (γὰρ - gar) A connective particle indicating a reason or explanation for the preceding statement, which is the Jerusalem apostles' recognition of Paul's mission (Gal 2:7).
• He who worked effectively: (ὁ ἐνεργήσας - ho energēsas) This participle comes from the verb energō, meaning "to be operative, efficient, to work, to produce," especially of divine power. It denotes the divine power that effectively accomplishes something. The perfect active participle indicates an ongoing state of effectiveness originating in a past action. It emphasizes God as the active agent, not Peter or Paul's inherent abilities. This divine empowerment is central to the legitimacy of their apostleship.
• For Peter: (Πέτρῳ - Petrō) Specifically names the lead apostle to the Jews. This clarifies whose ministry God was actively empowering on one side of the mission.
• In his apostleship: (εἰς ἀποστολὴν - eis apostolēn) The term apostolēn refers to an apostleship, a commission, or a mission. This isn't merely a general Christian service but a specific divine commission as an apostle. "In" or "unto" indicates the sphere or purpose of this effective work.
• To the circumcised: (τῆς περιτομῆς - tēs peritomēs) Refers to Jewish people, characterized by their religious mark of circumcision as a sign of the Abrahamic covenant. This specifies Peter's unique mission field.
• Worked effectively for me also: (ἐνήργησεν καὶ ἐμοί - enērgēsen kai emoi) The same verb energō is used again, but now in the aorist indicative, highlighting a past, definite act of divine power. "Also" (kai) emphasizes that the exact same divine power, origin, and efficacy were present in Paul's ministry as in Peter's. This directly parallels Paul's empowerment with Peter's, reinforcing their equal divine sanction.
• To the Gentiles: (εἰς τὰ ἔθνη - eis ta ethnē) The term ethnē (nations) specifically denotes non-Jewish peoples. This defines Paul's distinct mission field, creating a clear demarcation with Peter's sphere but with an identical divine source of power.

Words-group analysis

• "he who worked effectively for Peter... worked effectively for me also": This pairing directly establishes divine impartiality and identical backing for two distinct but equally valid ministries. It dispels any notion that one apostle or mission was somehow superior or less legitimate in God's eyes. It’s God's single empowering force behind two different expressions of apostleship.
• "his apostleship to the circumcised... to the Gentiles": This defines the unique spheres of influence and target audiences for Peter and Paul. Peter focused primarily on the Jewish people, rooted in his early ministry in Jerusalem and Judea, while Paul was uniquely commissioned to bring the gospel message to the uncircumcised, non-Jewish world. This demonstrates a strategic divine division of labor, recognizing diverse human cultures and backgrounds. This recognition was foundational for avoiding conflict over ministry methods and scope.

Galatians 2 8 Bonus section

• This verse provides strong internal biblical evidence against the idea that Peter held exclusive supreme authority over all other apostles, as it positions Paul's ministry as equally valid and divinely empowered, though distinct in its focus. The "apostleship to the circumcised" for Peter indicates a specific role, not a universal hierarchy above all other apostolic commissions.
• The agreement documented in Galatians 2, supported by this verse, represents a watershed moment in early Christian history, preventing a major split between Jewish and Gentile believers and affirming the gospel of grace without the burden of Mosaic law for new Gentile converts.
• The phrase "worked effectively" (ἐνεργέω) is consistently used in the New Testament to describe the supernatural power of God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit at work, indicating that Peter and Paul's successful ministries were undeniable signs of God's presence with them (e.g., Eph 1:19-20; Col 1:29).

Galatians 2 8 Commentary

Galatians 2:8 is a profound declaration of God's sovereign design in distributing spiritual authority and defining apostolic spheres. It highlights that the success of Peter's ministry among the Jews and Paul's among the Gentiles was not merely a matter of human effort or skill but the direct and undeniable "effective working" of God's power (ἐνεργέω). This verse underscores the unity of the divine source even amidst a diversity of assignments. It validated Paul's apostleship, particularly his gospel message that did not require Gentiles to adhere to Jewish ceremonial law, as equally authoritative and God-ordained as Peter's ministry. This divine endorsement formed the crucial basis for the Jerusalem apostles' subsequent recognition of Paul's distinct mission to the Gentiles. The passage serves as a powerful testimony to the impartiality of God, who prepares and empowers His servants according to His divine purpose, confirming that the same Lord works in various ways for the spread of His single gospel.