Paul's letter to the Galatians, while highly personal and emotional, yet also offers some of the clearest and most powerful expressions of theology the apostle ever wrote. The text read for today's epistle lesson starts a new section in the letter. It is concerned with the theological fallout created by the actions of Peter and the others in Antioch. Paul has already told the Galatians how he confronted Peter and openly voiced his displeasure with what he called their "cowardly" or "insincere" behavior. But Paul now wants the Galatians to hear the positive reason for his opposition to Peter's inappropriate concessions to those who preached the continued power of the Law.

Grammatically, it is not completely clear whether Paul's declaration in verse 15 is still directed toward Peter in which…