The Curious Case of Titus

Paul's epistle to the Galatians is full of meaty doctrine about the Gospel and against works righteousness. But it is also a polemic against law-keeping for righteousness. We examine further rhetorical attacks by Paul against Judaizers in chapter 2.

Paul uses two personal experiences to demonstrate the malicious evil that works righteousness brings into the church. His first example is the incident of Titus in Jerusalem.

Titus is a believer and Paul's fellow-servant in the Gospel, but he is an uncircumcised Gentile Christian. The Judaizers in Jerusalem, including converted Pharisees, claimed he could not be saved because he did not keep the Jewish law and was uncircumcised.

The Apostles, including Paul, had already concluded that Gentiles were saved without law-keeping. The incident of Peter preaching to Cornelius sealed this fact, for God saw his heart, and filled him with the Holy Ghost the same as Jewish converts.

Indeed, God's dealing with Gentiles is what demonstrated to Peter that the Gospel was all of grace, with no law-keeping added at all. He concluded that Jews are saved the same way as Gentiles - by grace without works.

When Judaizers objected to Titus because he was uncircumcised, Paul characterised them as false brethren, not real believers. They were trying to destroy the liberty from the law that the Gospel brings.

Paul refused to allow Titus to be circumcised, because compromise on adding law-keeping to the Gospel would destroy the Gospel.

All the Apostles agreed with Paul about Titus. Further, the brotherly love by Gentiles of poor Jewish believers was a testimony to their being Christ's.

The blood of the Cross reconciles us all!