The Meaning of Galatians 2:10 Explained

Galatians 2:10

KJV: Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

YLT: only, of the poor that we should be mindful, which also I was diligent -- this very thing -- to do.

Darby: only that we should remember the poor, which same thing also I was diligent to do.

ASV: only they would that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Only  [they would] that  we should remember  the poor;  the same  which  I  also  was forward  to do. 

What does Galatians 2:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The only point James , Peter, and John made was that Paul should not neglect the poor in his ministry. Paul had already made a commitment to do this. This could be a shorthand reference to the poor saints in Jerusalem. [1] Or it could simply be a reference to the poor in general.
"Thus the events of Paul"s second post-conversion visit to Jerusalem, like the events of his life both before and after his call by God, substantiate his claim that he received both his gospel and his apostleship directly from the risen Lord. If the earlier set of events supports this by showing that there was never a time when he was in a position to have derived his gospel and apostolic commission from the Jerusalem leaders, the events of the second visit support it by showing the full recognition given by those leaders to the gospel and apostolic office which already were his prior to the meeting of the two parties. A third major support will be furnished by the Antioch incident ( Galatians 2:11-21). [2]
This section helpfully illustrates the diversity within the unity of Christ"s body. Different Christians can minister to different segments of humanity and to people in different regions. Nevertheless there must be unity in the message we proclaim. Paul expounded other types of differences that exist within the body elsewhere in the New Testament (e.g, Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 12:28-31; Ephesians 4:1-16; et al.).

Context Summary

Galatians 2:1-10 - Stand Firm For Truth
The great controversy in Paul's career was over the initial rite of Judaism. It would have been comparatively calm, if he had been willing to admit that Christianity was a sect of Judaism, and that men must become Jews before becoming Christians. His contention was that the ceremonial aspect of the Law did not apply to converts from heathendom. Gentile sinners had the right to go directly to Jesus Christ for salvation, without traveling around the circuitous route of Judaism. When men insisted on the outward rite, he resisted it with all the fiery vehemence of his nature, Galatians 2:3; Galatians 2:12. But when his opponents were willing to admit that circumcision was not essential, he administered it to one of Jewish blood, as a concession to the weak and uninstructed, Acts 16:3.
What blessed intercourse the four men here named must have enjoyed together! James would tell of the earlier biography of Jesus, in the home of Nazareth; Peter would dwell upon his own fellowship with Christ throughout our Lord's active ministry; John would unfold Jesus' inner life, as he afterwards did in his Gospel; Paul would tell of that revelation of the risen Christ on the Damascus road. Note that God must work in and for us, if we are to succeed in the gospel ministry. See Galatians 2:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Galatians 2

1  He shows when he went up again to Jerusalem, and for what purpose;
3  and that Titus was not circumcised;
11  and that he resisted Peter, and told him the reason;
14  why he and others, being Jews, believe in Christ to be justified by faith, and not by works;
20  and that they live not in sin, who are so justified

Greek Commentary for Galatians 2:10

Only [μονον]
One item was emphasized. [source]
We should remember [μνημονευωμεν]
Present active subjunctive, “that we should keep on remembering.” Which very thing (οαυτο τουτο — hȯ̇auto touto). Repetition of relative and demonstrative, tautology, “which this very thing.” In fact Barnabas and Saul had done it before (Acts 11:30). It was complete victory for Paul and Barnabas. Paul passes by the second public meeting and the letters to Antioch (Acts 15:6-29) and passes on to Peter‘s conduct in Antioch. [source]
Which very thing [οαυτο τουτο]
Repetition of relative and demonstrative, tautology, “which this very thing.” In fact Barnabas and Saul had done it before (Acts 11:30). It was complete victory for Paul and Barnabas. Paul passes by the second public meeting and the letters to Antioch (Acts 15:6-29) and passes on to Peter‘s conduct in Antioch. [source]
Only []
With only this stipulation. [source]
We should remember [μνημονεύωμεν]
The only instance in N.T. of this verb in the sense of beneficent care. No instance in lxx. In Psalm 9:12, there is the thought but not the word. [source]
The poor [τῶν πτωχῶν]
The poor Christians of Palestine. Comp. Acts 24:17; Romans 15:26, Romans 15:27; 1 Corinthians 16:3; 2 Corinthians 9:1. For the word, see on Matthew 5:3. In lxx ordinarily of those who are oppressors, or of those who are quiet in contrast with the lawless. [source]
The same which [ὃ - αὐτὸ τοῦτο]
Lit. which, this very thing. The expression is peculiarly emphatic, and brings out the contrast between Judaising hostility and Paul's spirit of loving zeal. Rev. which very thing. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Galatians 2:10

Romans 15:26 A certain contribution [κοινωνιαν τινα]
Put thus because it was unknown to the Romans. For this sense of κοινωνιαν — Koinéōnian see 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 9:13. For the poor among the saints (εις τους πτωχους των αγιων — eis tous ptōchous tōn hagiōn). Partitive genitive. Not all there were poor, but Acts 4:32-5:11; Acts 6:1-6; Acts 11:29.; Galatians 2:10 prove that many were. [source]
Romans 15:26 For the poor among the saints [εις τους πτωχους των αγιων]
Partitive genitive. Not all there were poor, but Acts 4:32-5:11; Acts 6:1-6; Acts 11:29.; Galatians 2:10 prove that many were. [source]
Galatians 5:13 Only [μόνον]
For a similar use of the word, qualifying or limiting a general statement, comp. 1 Corinthians 7:39; Galatians 2:10; Philemon 1:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:7. [source]
2 Thessalonians 2:7 Only [μόνον]
The sentence is elliptical: “only we must wait,” or “only it must work in secret, until he that letteth,” etc. For a similar instance see Galatians 2:10. The collocation of A.V. is wrong. [source]
2 Timothy 2:15 Study [σπούδασον]
Originally, make haste. In Paul, Galatians 2:10; Ephesians 4:3(note); 1 Thessalonians 2:17. [source]
2 Timothy 2:15 Give diligence [σπουδασον]
First aorist active imperative of σπουδαζω — spoudazō old word, as in 1 Thessalonians 2:17; Galatians 2:10. [source]

What do the individual words in Galatians 2:10 mean?

Only [they asked] the poor that we should remember that also I was eager the same thing to do
μόνον τῶν πτωχῶν ἵνα μνημονεύωμεν καὶ ἐσπούδασα αὐτὸ τοῦτο ποιῆσαι

μόνον  Only  [they  asked] 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μόνον  
Sense: only, alone, but.
πτωχῶν  poor 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: πτωχός  
Sense: reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
μνημονεύωμεν  we  should  remember 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: μνημονεύω  
Sense: to be mindful of, to remember, to call to mind.
  that 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἐσπούδασα  I  was  eager 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: σπουδάζω  
Sense: to hasten, make haste.
αὐτὸ  the  same 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
τοῦτο  thing 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ποιῆσαι  to  do 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.