Paragraph 2:14–21
In this paragraph, Paul asked Peter and the other Jewish believers to live according to the true gospel. This meant that they had to reject the idea that they were justified by obeying the law. Paul emphasized that justification is by faith in Christ alone. Peter’s actions had implied that it was also necessary to keep the law. That would make Christ’s death meaningless and nullify the grace of God.
In 2:14c, Paul began to speak directly to Peter. There are at least three ways to interpret where Paul’s direct speech to Peter ends:
(1) It ends after verse 21.
(New International Version, New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version)
(2) It ends after verse 14. In verses 15–21, what Paul said to Peter is indirect speech.
(3) It ends after verse 16.
It is recommended that you follow option (1). In 2:15, it is possible that Paul began to also talk to the other people who were there. But he was still also talking to Peter. So Paul’s speech does not end until verse 21.
If you choose option (2), your translation should still show that Paul is indirectly speaking to Peter in 2:15–21. For example, at the beginning of 2:15, the Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English says:
And then I went on to explain that (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
2:14a
This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “but.” Most English versions translate it that way in order to show that there is a contrast between 2:11–13 and 2:14–21. The contrast is between Peter’s wrong way to think and act and the right way. Here is another way to show this contrast:
However
The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this conjunction, and some other versions, such as the New International Version and New Living Translation (2004), also do not translate it. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either. Connect 2:14a to 2:13b in a way that is natural in your language.
When I saw: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I saw includes the meaning of “discovered” or “found out.” Paul discovered that Peter was acting hypocritically and rebuked him.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
When I discovered
-or-
When I noticed/observed
that they were not walking in line with: In Greek, this verb phrase is more literally “they were not walking straight to.” It means that “they did not act/live rightly.” When Peter, Barnabas, and other Jewish believers at Antioch separated themselves from the Gentile believers, they were not living according to the truth of the gospel.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
they were not walking a straight path in line with (Good News Translation)
-or-
that they were not following (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
that they were not really obeying (Contemporary English Version)
they were not walking: This phrase refers to the actions of Peter, Barnabas, and the other Jewish believers who had separated themselves from the Gentile believers.
the truth of the gospel: This phrase means “the message of the true gospel” or “the truth that is the gospel.”
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
the true gospel
-or-
the true Good News
-or-
the true message from God
Paul used this same phrase in 2:5b.
2:14b
I said to Cephas in front of them all: This clause introduces Paul’s words of rebuke to Cephas (Peter). One way to make it clear that Paul was rebuking Peter is:
I rebuked Peter in front of everyone and said
in front of them all: This phrase indicates that Paul rebuked Peter where everyone in the Antioch church would also hear what he said.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
publicly
-or-
so that everyone could hear (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
Peter’s actions had affected the whole church in Antioch. It was a serious problem. Paul had to rebuke Peter publicly.
2:14c
If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew: In this “if” clause, there is an embedded phrase who are a Jew. In some languages, it will be easier to put this embedded phrase first. For example:
You are a Jew. But if you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew
The clause If you…live like a Gentile was true. Peter was living like a Gentile in the sense that he was eating with Gentiles. He was not separating himself from Gentiles during meals like Jews were supposed to do. He was probably eating food that was not acceptable to Jews.
In some languages, it will be easier to translate this clause without using “if.” For example:
Even though you are a Jew, you are behaving like a Gentile and not like a Jew.
-or-
Peter, you are a Jew, but you live/act like a person who is not a Jew. You do not live/act like a Jew.
Notice that the phrase a Jew is repeated. In some languages, it is not necessary to repeat it. For example:
Peter, you are a Jew, but you live like a Gentile. (Contemporary English Version)
2:14d
how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?: This is a rhetorical question. It is a rebuke. When Peter stopped eating with the Gentile Christians, his actions implied (falsely) that believers needed to follow Jewish laws. In that way, he was forcing the Gentiles to obey those laws and thus to live like Jews. So Paul rebuked him for his behavior.
Some ways to translate this rebuke are:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
How can you require Gentile believers to live like Jews?
-or-
So why do you now try to force those who are not Jewish to live like Jews? (New Century Version)
• As a statement. For example:
It’s wrong for you to force Gentile believers to live like Jews.
• As a command. For example:
You must not force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs!
Translate this rebuke in a natural way in your language.
compel: The word compel means “require.” It is the same word that Paul used in 2:3a.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
force
-or-
push
the Gentiles: In this clause the word Gentiles refers to non-Jewish Christians.
to live like Jews: The Greek word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as live like Jews refers to becoming Jewish.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
to become Jews
-or-
to follow Jewish customs (New International Version)
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