Bible Reading: Galatians 2
Galatians 2:6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me.
This is Paul’s description of his meeting with James, Peter, John and the other apostles and elders in Jerusalem. “They seemed to be somewhat”, means these were the men who were leaders in the church. But Paul will not make them out to be something special. He tells us that it makes no difference to him of their position because God accepteth no man’s person. In other words, men are men. We are not better than one another. Does this mean that Paul looked down on them? No, he would not have a religious hierarchy. This is contrary to what Jesus has established in his church. There is no pope. (It is interesting that this was Paul’s view of Peter and yet the Roman Catholic Church insists that Peter was the first pope.)
These men were apostles and elders. They were the leadership of the Jerusalem church but they were not “in charge” of all the churches. At the meeting, Peter told of how God used him to preach the gospel to Cornelius’ house. Then Paul and Barnabas told how God had mightily worked among the Gentiles. What they found was that they both preached the same gospel of Jesus Christ. Men are not justified by the works of the law. Men are saved by faith in Jesus Christ.
At the conference, Paul learned nothing new. They “added nothing” to him. He had been taught the gospel by God himself and what he preached was exactly the same as what the apostles and elders in Jerusalem preached. This is a very important passage of Scripture because it reminds us that leaders in the church are not to lord over others. Peter tells us:
1 Peter 5:1-3 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
An elder is one who has responsibility to the flock. He is to be treated with honor but not to be treated as someone “somewhat”. Paul says in another place:
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
We should love our pastors and teachers, but we must realize that they are men just like us. To think someone is “somewhat” is not a Biblical doctrine. We are brothers in Christ.
In Christ,
Rody
