Galatians 2:10 (ASV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Galatians 2:8 (for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles);

Galatians 2:9 and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision;

Galatians 2:10 only [they would] that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.

Galatians 2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned.

Galatians 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "only", "should", "remember", "poor", "very", and "zealous". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "only" and "should", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 9's "and when they perceived the grace that..." into verse 11's "But when Cephas came to Antioch I...", so "only" and "should" belong inside that flow. In Galatians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "only" and "should" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.