When we think of Paul's great desire to be in harmony with his brethren, his tenderness toward the weak in the faith, his reverence for the apostles who had been with Christ, and for James, the brother of the Lord, and his purpose to become all things to all men so far as he could without sacrificing principle--when we think of all this, it is less surprising that he was constrained to deviate from the firm, decided course that he had hitherto followed. But instead of accomplishing the desired object, his efforts for conciliation only precipitated the crisis, hastened his predicted sufferings, and resulted in separating him from his brethren, 406 depriving the church of one of its strongest pillars, and bringing sorrow to Christian hearts in every land.

Når vi tænker på Paulus store ønske om at leve i forståelse med sine brødre, på hans omsorg for dem, der var svage i troen, hans ærbødighed for de apostle, som havde været sammen med Jesus og for Jakob, Herrens broder og hans håb om at blive alt for alle, så vidt det lod sig gøre uden at ofre det væsentlige, når vi tænker på alt dette, er det mindre forbavsende, at han lod sig nøde til at vige fra den faste, afgjorte retningslinje, han hidtil havde fulgt. Men i stedet for at opnå det, han ønskede, fremskyndede hans bestræbelser for at skaffe forsoning kun krisen og hans forudsagte lidelser og endte med at skille ham fra hans medbrødre, hvorved menigheden blev berøvet en af sine stærkeste piller og der bragtes sorg til de kristne i alle lande.