Public Rebuke by Pastor Poju Oyemade

Paul's rebuke of Peter at Antioch and how it affects us and the "Christian culture" today. Was the humanity of Peter and Paul on display?

This is a fairly long article but this has to be brought into the light and every student of the Scripture should follow these series.

It is reported in the book of Galatians by Paul that he stood up to Peter and rebuked him publicly because he was to be blamed (clearly in the wrong). It is an often quoted scripture today in the use of public rebuke and it has begun to enter into the modern Christian culture. It is therefore important that we take a closer look at it and put it in its proper context.

Context can be the difference between life and death. Words and actions have to be placed in their proper context for them to come alive. If one hears that a man shot and killed another person, depending on the context in which the act was committed, he is either a murderer or hero.

If in a rage of anger over a traffic accident in which one's headlamp gets broken, one pulls out a gun and shoots the other, he will easily be condemned to death. If in another case one enters a school and finds a man stabbing children who are from ages 3yrs to 5yrs and he pulls a weapon to shoot the murderer, he is deemed a hero. Every action must be placed in its proper context for the reaction to be properly understood.

Let's give an example, as much as Paul fought the Judaizers whose principal doctrine was circumcision, we find him doing something that is rather strange. On his first encounter with Timothy, Paul decides to circumcise Timothy and the Bible says he did it because of the Jews that were in those quarters. Was it for acceptance or what? The same Paul who preached against insisting on circumcision after one has been saved by Christ.

Acts 16:1-3
"Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek."

Someone who saw Paul circumcise Timothy could have run to town saying "we all need circumcision, Paul did that to Timothy" or could say "see this hypocrite Paul he says we shouldn't yet he is doing it"

Now Paul who compelled Timothy to be circumcised, hear what he said concerning Titus.

Galatians 2:1-4
"Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also...... But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 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:"

Paul says here that Titus was not compelled to be circumcised and even refers to those who came into their midst insisting on circumcision as false brethren. So the question is this, was Paul guilty of the very same thing he rebuked Peter about when Peter made a decision on seeing the Jews? Do we have Paul's humanity also being expressed before our very eyes?

Galatians 2:11-13King James Version (KJV)
"But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation."

Only Jesus was flawless and never had to apologise for a wrong word or action. He was sinless and walked permanently in the Spirit. Paul never presented himself as being flawless. Read this account in the book of Acts

Acts 23:3-5
"Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people."

Imagine Christ striking back when He was to be arrested. The salvation of humanity would have been lost.

In part 2 we will start from the beginning. The actual history behind the encounter between Paul and Peter dating back to the words of Jesus in the Gospels and the reason why Paul actually rebuked Peter.

-Pastor Poju Oyemade
facebook.com/pastorpoju