Charles Ellicott Commentary Galatians 2:4

"and that because of the false brethren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:" — Galatians 2:4 (ASV)

And that because of . . .—The meaning here is, in any case, broken and imperfect. It seems, on the whole, best to supply the missing clause this way: “But (or, though) on account of false brethren . . . [I was urged to have him circumcised].”

The leaders of the Church at Jerusalem took the position, not of insisting upon circumcision as a necessity, but rather advising it as a matter of policy, to lessen the ill feeling excited against St. Paul by scheming men, traitors in the camp, who, though Christians in name, were Jews at heart.

Many commentators, however, adopt the rendering of the Authorized Version: “And that because of false (or rather, the false) brethren,” understanding that he was not compelled to be circumcised. The reason Titus was not circumcised was the evidently self-interested and treacherous motives of the Judaizing partisans who clamored for it.

Unawares brought in, who came in secretly.—These two words correspond to each other in the Greek and bring out in a graphic and forceful way the insidious and scheming character of the party most violently opposed to St. Paul. Professing to be Christians, they were really Jews of the narrowest sort, who only entered into the Church to spy on and restrict its liberties.

Which we have in Christ Jesus.—The Christian Church is the Messianic kingdom, which derives all its attributes directly from its Head. If it is free, Christ has won its freedom for it by relieving it from the burden of the Law, by abolishing race distinctions, and by offering all the Messianic privileges to those who through faith are united to Him.

Bring us into bondage.—The “bondage” is, primarily, that of the Mosaic law, and through it, the personal domination of the Judaizing partisans.