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The Letter to the Galatians · Chapter 2 of 6

Galatians 2

Galatians 2 is chapter 2 of 6 in the Letter to the Galatians. Here are all 21 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

About this chapter

Bp. Challoner’s summary

The apostle's preaching was approved of by the other apostles. The Gentiles were not to be constrained to the observance of the law.

Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summary

Galatians 2, Catholic Public Domain Version

Galatians 2Gal 2
  1. Next, after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, taking with me Barnabas and Titus.

    Deinde post annos quatuordecim, iterum ascendi Jerosolymam cum Barnaba, assumpto et Tito.

  2. 2

    And I went up according to revelation, and I debated with them about the Gospel that I am preaching among the Gentiles, but away from those who were pretending to be something, lest perhaps I might run, or have run, in vain.

    Ascendi autem secundum revelationem: et contuli cum illis Evangelium, quod prædico in gentibus, seorsum autem iis qui videbantur aliquid esse: ne forte in vacuum currerem, aut cucurrissem.

  3. 3

    But even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Gentile, was not compelled to be circumcised,

    Sed neque Titus, qui mecum erat, cum esset gentilis, compulsus est circumcidi:

  4. 4

    but only because of false brothers, who were brought in unknowingly. They entered secretly to spy on our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might reduce us to servitude.

    sed propter subintroductos falsos fratres, qui subintroierunt explorare libertatem nostram, quam habemus in Christo Jesu, ut nos in servitutem redigerent.

  5. 5

    We did not yield to them in subjection, even for an hour, in order that the truth of the Gospel would remain with you,

    Quibus neque ad horam cessimus subjectione, ut veritas Evangelii permaneat apud vos:

  6. 6

    and away from those who were pretending to be something. (Whatever they might have been once, it means nothing to me. God does not accept the reputation of a man.) And those who were claiming to be something had nothing to offer me.

    ab iis autem, qui videbantur esse aliquid (quales aliquando fuerint, nihil mea interest: Deus personam hominis non accipit): mihi enim qui videbantur esse aliquid, nihil contulerunt.

  7. 7

    But it was to the contrary, since they had seen that the Gospel to the uncircumcised was entrusted to me, just as the Gospel to the circumcised was entrusted to Peter.†

    Sed e contra cum vidissent quod creditum est mihi Evangelium præputii, sicut et Petro circumcisionis

  8. 8

    For he who was working the Apostleship to the circumcised in Peter, was also working in me among the Gentiles.

    (qui enim operatus est Petro in apostolatum circumcisionis, operatus est et mihi inter gentes):

  9. 9

    And so, when they had acknowledged the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who seemed like pillars, gave to me and to Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we would go to the Gentiles, while they went to the circumcised,

    et cum cognovissent gratiam, quæ data est mihi, Jacobus, et Cephas, et Joannes, qui videbantur columnæ esse, dextras dederunt mihi, et Barnabæ societatis: ut nos in gentes, ipsi autem in circumcisionem:

  10. 10

    asking only that we should be mindful of the poor, which was the very thing that I also was solicitous to do.

    tantum ut pauperum memores essemus, quod etiam sollicitus fui hoc ipsum facere.

  11. 11

    But when Cephas had arrived at Antioch, I stood against him to his face, because he was blameworthy.†

    Cum autem venisset Cephas Antiochiam, in faciem ei restiti, quia reprehensibilis erat.

  12. 12

    For before certain ones arrived from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they had arrived, he drew apart and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

    Prius enim quam venirent quidam a Jacobo, cum gentibus edebat: cum autem venissent, subtrahebat, et segregabat se, timens eos qui ex circumcisione erant.

  13. 13

    And the other Jews consented to his pretense, so that even Barnabas was led by them into that falseness.

    Et simulationi ejus consenserunt ceteri Judæi, ita ut et Barnabas duceretur ab eis in illam simulationem.

  14. 14

    But when I had seen that they were not walking correctly, by the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas in front of everyone: “If you, while you are a Jew, are living like the Gentiles and not the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to keep the customs of the Jews?”

    Sed cum vidissem quod non recte ambularent ad veritatem Evangelii, dixi Cephæ coram omnibus: Si tu, cum Judæus sis, gentiliter vivis, et non judaice: quomodo gentes cogis judaizare?

  15. 15

    By nature, we are Jews, and not of the Gentiles, sinners.

    Nos natura Judæi, et non ex gentibus peccatores.

  16. 16

    And we know that man is not justified by the works of the law, but only by the faith of Jesus Christ. And so we believe in Christ Jesus, in order that we may be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law. For no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

    Scientes autem quod non justificatur homo ex operibus legis, nisi per fidem Jesu Christi: et nos in Christo Jesu credimus, ut justificemur ex fide Christi, et non ex operibus legis: propter quod ex operibus legis non justificabitur omnis caro.

  17. 17

    But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are also found to be sinners, would then Christ be the minister of sin? Let it not be so!

    Quod si quærentes justificari in Christo, inventi sumus et ipsi peccatores, numquid Christus peccati minister est? Absit.

  18. 18

    For if I rebuild the things that I have destroyed, I establish myself as a prevaricator.

    Si enim quæ destruxi, iterum hæc ædifico: prævaricatorem me constituo.

  19. 19

    For through the law, I have become dead to the law, so that I may live for God. I have been nailed to the cross with Christ.

    Ego enim per legem, legi mortuus sum, ut Deo vivam: Christo confixus sum cruci.

  20. 20

    I live; yet now, it is not I, but truly Christ, who lives in me. And though I live now in the flesh, I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and who delivered himself for me.

    Vivo autem, jam non ego: vivit vero in me Christus. Quod autem nunc vivo in carne: in fide vivo Filii Dei, qui dilexit me, et tradidit semetipsum pro me.

  21. 21

    I do not reject the grace of God. For if justice is through the law, then Christ died in vain.

    Non abjicio gratiam Dei. Si enim per legem justitia, ergo gratis Christus mortuus est.

Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain · Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592)

Bishop Challoner’s notes

Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750). They comment on its older English wording, which can differ from the CPDV above; the verse numbers are matched to the CPDV.

  1. Verse 7

    The preaching of the gospel to the uncircumcised, that is, to the Gentiles. St. Paul was called in an extraordinary manner to be the apostle of the Gentiles; St. Peter, besides his general commission over the whole flock, (John 21. 15, etc.,) had a peculiar charge of the people of the circumcision, that is, of the Jews.

  2. Verse 11

    The fault that is here noted in the conduct of St. Peter, was only a certain imprudence, in withdrawing himself from the table of the Gentiles, for fear of giving offence to the Jewish converts; but this, in such circumstances, when his so doing might be of ill consequence to the Gentiles, who might be induced thereby to think themselves obliged to conform to the Jewish way of living, to the prejudice of their Christian liberty. Neither was St. Paul's reprehending him any argument against his supremacy; for in such cases an inferior may, and sometimes ought, with respect, to admonish his superior.

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