Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 2 · Verse extract 12
Verſe. 12. But vvhen they vvere come, he vvithdrevve and ſeparated himſelfe, fearing them vvhichwhich vvere of the circumciſion.
Here then ye ſee Peters offence, as Paule plainly ſetteth it forth.The offence of Peter. Paule accuſeth him not of malice or ignorance, but of diſſimulation and infirmity, in that he abſteined from meates forbidden in the law, fearing leſt the Iewes which came from Iames, ſhould be offended therby, and had more reſpect to the Iewes then to ye Gentiles: wherby he gaue occaſion as much as in him was, to ouerthrow the Chriſtian libertie & truth of the Goſpell. For in that he did withdraw and vtterly ſeparate himſelfe, abſtaining from meates forbidden in the lawe (which notwithſtanding he had eaten of before) he miniſtred a ſcruple of conſcience to the faithfull, thus to gather vponupon his example:VVhat the beleuing Ievves gathered of Peters abſtaining. Peter abſtaineth from meates forbidden in the law: therefore he that eateth meates forbidden in the law, ſinneth and tranſgreſſeth the law: but he that abſtaineth is righteous and kepeth the law, for els would not Peter hauehave withdrawn himſelfe. But becauſe he did ſo, and of purpoſe refuſed thoſe meates which before he did eate, it is a ſure argument that ſuch as eate againſt the law doe ſinne, and ſuch as abſtaine from meates which the law forbiddeth, doe keepe the law and are iuſtified thereby.
Here note, that the end of this facte of Peter is reproued of Paule, & not the fact it ſelfe: for the facte in it ſelfe was not euill.A facte is one thing and the end of a facte an other. To eate and drinke, or not to eate & drinke is nothing. But the end, that is: If thou eate thou ſinneſt: If thou abſtaine thou art righteous, is euill. So circumciſion of it ſelfe is good, but this end is euill: If thou be not circū ciſed after the law of Moſes, thou cāſt not be ſaued. Alſo to eate meates prohibited in the law, is not euill: but this ſhrinking and diſſimulation of Peter is euill. For it might be ſaid: Peter abſtaineth from meates forbidden in the law: wherfore if thou doeſt not likewiſe abſtaine, thou canſt not be ſaued. This Paule might in no wiſe diſſemble: for the truth of ye Goſpell was here in daunger. To the end therefore that this truth might continue ſound and vncorrupt, he reſiſted Peter to his face.
And here we muſt make a diſtinction.Meates may be refuſed tvvo maner of vvaies. 1 Cor. 9. For meates may be refuſed two maner of waies. Firſt for chriſtian charities ſake. And herein ther is no daunger: for to beare with the infirmitie of my brother it is good. So Paule himſelfe both did and taught. Secondly, by abſtaining from them to obtaine righteouſnes, and for not abſtaining to ſinne and to be be damned. Here accurſed be charitie with all the ſeruice and works of charitie whatſoeuer. For thus to refraine frō meates is to deny Chriſt, to tread his bloud vnderunder our feete, to blaſpheme the holy Ghoſt, and to deſpiſe all holy things. Wherefore if we muſt loſe the one, let vsus rather loſe man our frend and brother, then God our father. For if we loſe god our father, man our frend and brother can not continue.
Ierome, who neither vnderſtood this place nor the whole epiſtle beſides, thinketh this to be but a fained reprehenſion of Paule, & therfore he excuſeth Peters fall, ſaying, that it was done by ignorance. But Peter offended through diſſimulation,The diſſimulation of Peter and therby he had eſtabliſhed ye neceſſity of the law, he had conſtrained both Gentiles & Iewes to reuolt from the truth of the Goſpell, he had giuen them greate occaſion to forſake Chriſt, to deſpiſe grace, to returne to ye Iewiſh religion & to beare all ye burdens of ye law, if Paule had not reproued him & by that meanes reuoked ye gentiles & Iewes which were offēded through this example of Peter, to ye liberty which is in Chriſt Ieſus & to the truth of ye goſpel.
The ſinne of Peter.Wherfore if a man would here ſet forth and amplifie Peters offence, it ſhould appeare to be very greate, and yet was it not done by malice or ignorance, but by occaſion and feare only. Thus we ſee what ruines may come by one mans fal and offence if it be not well ſeene to and corrected in time. Wherfore we may not trifle with this article of iuſtification:A fall in doctrine is eaſy. neither is it without good cauſe that we do ſo often and ſo diligently put you in minde therof.
The Councell holden at Ieruſalem.And it is much to be marueled that Peter being ſuch an excellent Apoſtle ſhould thus do: who before in ye Councel of Ieruſalem ſtood in a maner alone in the defence of this article & preuailed therin, namely yt ſaluation cometh by faith wtout the law.Acts. 15. He that before did ſo conſtantly defend the truth & liberty of the goſpell, now by his fall in abſtaining from meates forbidden in ye law,1. Cor. 10.12. is not only the cauſe of greate offence, but alſo offendeth againſt his owne decree. Wherfore let him which thinketh he ſtandeth, take heede leſt he fall.*Ceremonies are daungerous: and if ſuch offence come by keping thoſe vvhichwhich vvere commaunded of God, vvhat may vve think of ſuch as Antechriſt hath deuiſed, ſeruing to no edification? No man would thinke what daūgers & perils do enſue of traditions & ceremonies: which not wtſtanding we can not want. What is more neceſſary then ye law & the works therof? and yet there is great daunger leſt by the ſame, men be brought to ye denial of Chriſt. For of the law often times cometh a truſt & affiance in works, & where that is, there can be no affiance in Chriſt. Chriſt therfore is ſoone denied & ſone loſt, as we may ſee by this example of Peter, who knew this article of iuſtification better then we do, & yet how eaſily did he geue occaſion of ſuch an horrible ruine, that all ye Gentiles ſhould therby hauehave falne away from the preaching of Paule, & by this meanes ſhould hauehave loſt ye goſpell & Chriſt himſelfe. And all this ſhould hauehave bene done vnderunder a holy pretence. For they might hauehave ſaid: Paule, hetherto thou haſt taught vsus yt we muſt be iuſtified by grace without the law. Thou ſeeſt now that Peter doth the contrary: for he abſtaineth from meates forbidden in the law, & hereby he teacheth vsus yt we can not be ſaued except we receaue circumciſion & obſerue the lawe.