In Galatians 2, Paul deliberately confronts Peter for his inappropriate actions. Peter had grown close to the new Gentile believers, eating and drinking with them in their homes, while certainly discussing with them the foundational truths of the gospel. Yet, when Jewish believers arrived to the Gentile village, the gospel that he lived found itself far from the gospel that he believed. He separated from the Gentiles in the presence of the Jewish believers, so as not to be looked down upon by his southern friends.


In response to this event, Paul urges Peter to evaluate his actions through a careful argument. First, Paul assesses past behavior in light of revealed truth. He carefully addresses the situation at hand and differentiates the behavior begun by Peter and the implications of his actions on the Gentile believers.

Second, Paul specifically delineates that truth forms the basis of all behavior. The truths of the gospel, particularly in regard to justification by faith and not by the law, are set forth as the foundation for all of life.

Third, Paul urges that behavior must be reformed to truth. Because the believer is justified by faith, one becomes dead to the law. Therefore, to regard a group of believers as less respectable than a group of people who abide to the law is not only senseless but entirely misaligned with the gospel of Christ.

In this passage, the circular reasoning of behavior and truth is laid out for all believers. We must deliberately assess all past behavior in light of revealed truth, we must take revealed truth as the basis of all future behavior, and we must reform all behavior to truth. This behavior, in turn, must be assessed, and the circular reasoning continues once again.

Though this process often works itself out in the mind of believers unconsciously, it must be the determined task of all disciples of Christ to evaluate behavior, delineate truth, and reform actions. This is the process by which our consciences are biblically aligned and our paths are perpetually straightened. Without this process, the gospel we live pales in comparison to the gospel we preach.