Matthew Poole and continuators on Galatians 2:4

4 And that because of false brethren u nawares brought in , who came in privily to spy out our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus , that they might bring us into bondage .

He gives the reason why Circumcision was not urged upon Titus, viz▪ because there were some got into that Meeting, where Paul debated these things with the Apostles that were at Hierusalem; who though they had embraced the Christian Religion, (and upon that account were Brethren) yet were sowred with the Jewish Leaven, and were very zealous for all Christians to observe the Jewish Rites of Circumcision, &c. Upon which account it is that he calleth them false Brethren.

These (he saith) came in privily, to spy out that liberty which all Christians had, and Paul had preached and used, as to these Jewish Ceremonies: Who, could they have obtained to have had Titus circumcised, they had had a great advantage to have defamed Paul, as teaching one thing to the Gentile Churches, and practising the contrary, when he came at Hierusalem to the Apostles, and amongst the Iewes. And this being a liberty which he and all Christians had, in and from Jesus Christ, he would not part with it,

for they aimed at nothing, but the again bringing of Christians under the bondage of the Ceremonial Law. Some may say, it being a thing wherein Christians had a liberty, why did not St. Paul yield to avoid their offence? becoming all things to all men to gain some. Answ. In the use of our liberty, all circumstances are to be con [illegible: 1 letter]idered, as well as that of scandal and offence. The valuable opposite circumstance in this case, seemeth to be the validity and success of the Apostles Ministry, the efficacy of which would have been much weakened, if his enemies [illegible: 1 letter]ad from hence gained an advantage to represent him, as doing one thing in one place, and the quite contrary in another. Besides, though at this time, the use or not use of the Ceremonial Rites, by the Iews, was a matter of liberty, by reason of Gods Indulgence to them for the prejudices of their Education, yet whether they were at all so to the Gentile Churches, may be doubted, see chap. 5.2, 3. Further, yet these Brethren urged the observation of these Rites, as necessary to Salvation, (as appears from Acts 15.1.) for they were of the sect of the Pharisees, verse 5. And to use them under that notion, was no matter of liberty.

Marginal references: 1 Cor. 11.26.; [illegible: 1 word] 3.25. [illegible: 1 word] 5.1, 13.