Peter at Antioch
An instance more astonishing than both of these is given by Saint Paul in his letter to the Galatians. When Peter, the zealous, the first of the apostles, one of the three most highly favored by his Lord, had come to Antioch, "I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed" (Galatians 2:11). For before certain men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles, the heathens converted to the Christian faith, as one who had been peculiarly taught by God that he should not call any man common or unclean (Acts 10:28). But when they had come, he separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the other Jews pretended likewise with him, so much that Barnabas also was carried away with their pretense.
But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly, according to the truth of the gospel (Galatians 2:14), I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, not regarding the ceremonial law of Moses, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?" Here too is plain, undeniable sin, committed by one who was undoubtedly born of God. But how can this be reconciled with the assertion of Saint John, if taken in the obvious literal meaning, that whoever is born of God does not commit sin?
1771 text
6. An instance more astonishing than both these is given by St. Paul in his epistle to the Galatians. When Peter, the zealous, the first of the apostles; one of the three most highly favoured by his Lord; was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles, the Heathens converted to the Christian faith, as having been peculiarly taught of God, that he should not call any man common or unclean. But when they were come, he separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, not regarding the ceremonial law of Moses, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? Here is also plain, undeniable sin, committed by one who was undoubtedly born of God. But how can this be reconciled with the assertion of St. John, if taken in the obvious literal meaning, that whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin?
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 19 in the 1771 Works. First John 3:9.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.