SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:9
y como vieron la gracia que me era dada, Jacobo y Cefas y Juan, que parecían ser las columnas, nos dieron la diestra de compaía a mí y a Bernab, para que nosotros fusemos a los gentiles, y ellos a la circuncisin.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Galatians 2:9
Verse 9. James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars] oi dokountev stuloi einai? Who were known to be very eminent, and acknowledged as chief men among the apostles. See the note on Luke viii. 18, for the meaning of the verb dokein, and see before on ver. 6. Among the Jews, persons of great eminence and importance are represented as pillars and foundations of the world. So Abraham is said to be lw[h dwm[ ammud heolam, "the pillar of the universe; for by him to this day are the earth and heavens supported." Yalcut Rubeni, fol. 29.
"Rabbi Simeon said, Behold, we are the pillars of the world." Idra Rabba, s. 23.
"When Rabbi Jochanan ben Zachai was near death, he wept with a loud voice. His disciples said unto him, O Rabbi, thou high pillar, thou light of the world, thou strong hammer, why dost thou weep?" Aboth. R. Nathan, chap. 24.
So, in Sohar Genes, fol. 5, it is said: "And he saw that Rab. Eleazar went up, and stood there, and with him ydwm[ ra shear ammudin, the rest of the pillars (eminent men) who sat there." Ibid., fol. 13: "These are the seven righteous men who cleave to the holy blessed God with a pure heart, and they are the seven pillars of the world." Ibid., fol. 21, on the words bearing fruit, Gen. i. 11, it is said: "By this we are to understand the just one, who is the pillar of the world." See Schoettgen, who adds: "These pillars must be distinguished from the foundation. The foundation of the Church is Jesus Christ alone; the pillars are the more eminent teachers, which, without the foundation, are of no value." The right hands of fellowship] Giving the right hand to another was the mark of confidence, friendship, and fellowship. See Lev. vi. 2: If a soul-lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, dy tmwtb bithsumeth yad, "in giving the hand."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. And when James, Cephas, and John , etc..] These are the persons all along designed, though not till now named. James was the brother of our Lord, the son of Alphaeus, who wrote the epistle that goes by his name, made that famous speech in the synod at Jerusalem, ( Acts 15:13), presided in that church, was a man of great holiness, and much esteemed of by the saints, and had a good report of them that were without. Cephas is Simon Peter. This name was given him by Christ, ( John 1:42) and in the Syriac language signifies a stone, as Peter does in the Greek, to which our Lord alludes, ( Matthew 16:18). John was the evangelist, and the same that wrote the epistles, was the beloved disciple, and who outlived all the rest: who seemed to be pillars ; not as the Arabic version, who thought themselves such, but were esteemed so by others, and very rightly. They were pillars among the apostles of the highest note and greatest eminence among them; they were the very chief of the apostles; for though they were all in the same office, and had the same commission, and were employed in the same work, yet there were some who made a greater figure than others, as these did, and are therefore called pillars; they were more conspicuous, and to be observed, and taken notice of, than the rest; they were pillars in the church, set in the highest place there, and the ornaments of it; (see Proverbs 9:1 Revelation 3:12). They are called so for their constancy and stability in preaching the Gospel, and suffering for the sake of Christ; they were steadfast and immoveable in his work, nor could they be shaken or deterred from it by the menaces, reproaches, and persecutions of men; and they were the means of supporting others that were feeble minded, and of defending and maintaining the truths of the Gospel; and were set, as Jeremiah was, as a defenced city, an iron pillar, and brazen walls against all the enemies of Christ, and his Gospel; and were, as the church is said to be, the pillar and ground of truth. The apostle may have respect to the titles of this kind which were bestowed on the Jewish doctors. It is said f29 , when R. Jochanan ben Zaccai was sick, his disciples went in to visit him; and when he saw them, he began to weep; his disciples said to him, lamp of Israel, ynymyh dwm[ , the right hand pillar, etc.. why dost thou weep?
So another of their Rabbins is said to be one of the walls, ydwm[w , and pillars of the school.
The character better agrees with these eminent apostles, who when they perceived the grace that was given unto me ; meaning not so much the grace of the Spirit of God that was wrought in him, or the good work of grace upon his soul, with which the church at Jerusalem, and the apostles there, had been made acquainted some years before; but the grace and high favour of apostleship, which was conferred upon him, and all those extraordinary gifts of grace, whereby he was qualified for the discharge of it; and particularly the efficacy and success of his ministry through the grace of God which went along with it, and was so visible in it: they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship ; as a token of a covenant or agreement between them; they took them, as it were, into partnership with them, admitted them as apostles into their society, and gave their full consent, particularly to this article, that we , Paul and Barnabas, should go unto the Heathen , preach among the Gentiles; and they , Peter, and those that were with him, unto the circumcision , and discharge their office among the Jews; and, to show their joint agreement, used the above rite; and which ceremony was used as among other nations f31 , so with the Jews, when covenants were made, or partnership was entered into; (see Leviticus 6:2) where the phrase, [y tmwtb , in putting of the hand, and which we render in fellowship, is, both by Onkelos, and Jonathan ben Uzziel, rendered aky twptwb , in fellowship of the hand, or by the right hand of fellowship; that being given in token of their agreement and consent to be partners together, to which the allusion seems to be here; or to the making of proselytes, to whom they stretch out the hand to bring them under the wings of the Shekinah f32 , or in token of their being proselytes.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - Observe the apostle's faithfulness in giving a full account of the doctrine he had preached among the Gentiles, and was still resolved to preach, that of Christianity, free from all mixture of Judaism. Thi doctrine would be ungrateful to many, yet he was not afraid to own it His care was, lest the success of his past labours should be lessened or his future usefulness be hindered. While we simply depend upon God for success to our labours, we should use every proper caution to remove mistakes, and against opposers. There are things which ma lawfully be complied with, yet, when they cannot be done withou betraying the truth, they ought to be refused. We must not give plac to any conduct, whereby the truth of the gospel would be reflecte upon. Though Paul conversed with the other apostles, yet he did no receive any addition to his knowledge, or authority, from them Perceiving the grace given to him, they gave unto him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, whereby they acknowledged that he wa designed to the honour and office of an apostle as well as themselves They agreed that these two should go to the heathen, while the continued to preach to the Jews; judging it agreeable to the mind of Christ, so to divide their work. Here we learn that the gospel is no ours, but God's; and that men are but the keepers of it; for this we are to praise God. The apostle showed his charitable disposition, an how ready he was to own the Jewish converts as brethren, though man would scarcely allow the like favour to the converted Gentiles; but mere difference of opinion was no reason to him why he should not hel them. Herein is a pattern of Christian charity, which we should exten to all the disciples of Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 γνοντες 1097 5631 την 3588 χαριν 5485 την 3588 δοθεισαν 1325 5685 μοι 3427 ιακωβος 2385 και 2532 κηφας 2786 και 2532 ιωαννης 2491 οι 3588 δοκουντες 1380 5723 στυλοι 4769 ειναι 1511 5750 δεξιας 1188 εδωκαν 1325 5656 εμοι 1698 και 2532 βαρναβα 921 κοινωνιας 2842 ινα 2443 ημεις 2249 εις 1519 τα 3588 εθνη 1484 αυτοι 846 δε 1161 εις 1519 την 3588 περιτομην 4061
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. Who seemed to be pillars (oi dokountev stuloi einai). Better, who are in repute as pillars. The metaphor of pillars, applied to the great representatives and supporters of an institution, is old, and common in all languages. 49 The grace (thn carin). Including all the manifestations of divine grace in Paul - his mission, special endowment, success in preaching the gospel - all showing that he was worthy of their fellowship. He is careful to speak of it as a gift of God, doqeisan.
They gave the right hands of fellowship (dexiav edwkan koinwniav). The phrase only here in N.T. A token of alliance in the apostolic office of preaching and teaching. The giving of the right hand in pledge was not a distinctively Jewish custom. It appears as early as Homer. Deissmann cites an inscription from Pergamum, 98 B. C., in which the Pergamenes offer to adjust the strife between Sardes and Ephesus, and send a mediator dounai tav ceirav eijv sullusin to give hands for a treaty. See dexian or dexiav didonai 1 Macc. vi. 58; xi. 50, 62; 2 Macc. xi. 26; xii. 11; xiii. 22; and dex. lambanein to receive right hand or hands, 1 Macc. xi. 66; xiii. 50; 2 Macc. xii. 12; xiv. 19. 50 The custom prevailed among the Persians, from whom it may have passed to the Jews. See Joseph. Antiq. xviii. 9, 3. Images of right hands clasped were sometimes exchanged in token of friendship (see Xen. Anab. ii. 4, 1). Tacitus (Hist. i. 54) says: "The state of the Lingones had sent, according to an ancient institution, right hands, as gifts to the legions, a signal token of good will." On Roman coins often appear two hands joined, with various inscriptions, as Exercituum Fides; Concordia; Consensus. To give the hand in confirmation of a promise occurs Ezek. x. 19. In Isa. lxii. 8, God swears by his right hand.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:9 {They who were reputed to be pillars} (hoi dokountes stuloi einai). They had that reputation (dokountes) and Paul accepts them as such. stuloi, old word for pillars, columns, as of fire (#Re 10:1). So of the church (#1Ti 3:15). These were the Pillar Apostles. {Gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship} (dexias edwkan emoi kai barnabai koinwnias). Dramatic and concluding act of the pact for cooperation and coordinate, independent spheres of activity. The compromisers and the Judaizers were brushed to one side when these five men shook hands as equals in the work of Christ's Kingdom.
