Galatians 2:5 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

To whom we gave place, &c.— The neither in the 3rd verse, according to propriety of speech, ought to have an or to answer it; and accordingly, in this verse, the word ουδε should be so rendered, Neither was Titus compelled—nor did we yield to them a moment. The point which those false brethren contended for was, that the law of Moses was to be kept. See Acts 15:5. St. Paul, who, upon other occasions, was so condescending that to the Jews he became as a Jew, &c. 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 yet when subjection to the law was claimed as due in any case, he would not yield in the least matter. This appears to be the meaning of the expression, we gave not place by subjection; for where compliance was desired of him, upon account of expediency, and not of subjection to the law, we do not find him stiff and inflexible; as may be seen, Acts 21:18-26 which was after the writing of this Epistle. In the next clause of this verse he gives us the reason why he yielded not to those Judaizing false brethren: it was, that the true doctrine which he had preached to the Gentiles, or their freedom from thelaw, might stand firm: a convincing argument to the Galatians that he preached not circumcision. See Galatians 2:14 and ch. Galatians 3:1. Dr. Heylin connects this and the 4th verse in the following manner, Galatians 2:4. And as to the false brethren, who insidiously crept in to spy out our liberty, &c. Galatians 2:5. I would not yield to them by subjection, &c. "Much had been done on several occasions," says this writer, "in condescension to weakness, and from the motive of charity; but when things indifferent were required absolutely, and as a necessary subjection, then St. Paul resisted, as became him."