Freedom from the Law

11 But when Cephas[a] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.[b] 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jews(A) joined his hypocrisy,(B) so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas[c] in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile(C) and not like a Jew,(D) how can you compel Gentiles to live(E) like Jews?”[d]

15 We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners” 16 know that no one is justified by the works of the law(F) but by faith in Jesus Christ.[e] And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ[f] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will[g] be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ,(G) is Christ then a promoter[h](H) of sin? Absolutely not!(I) 18 If I rebuild(J) the system[i] I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.(K) 19 For through the law I have died to the law,(L) so that I might live for God.(M) I have been crucified with Christ[j] 20 and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.(N) The life I now live in the body,[k] I live by faith in the Son of God,(O) who loved(P) me(Q) and gave Himself(R) for me.(S) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law,(T) then Christ died(U) for nothing.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:11 Other mss read Peter
  2. Galatians 2:11 Or he was in the wrong
  3. Galatians 2:14 Other mss read Peter
  4. Galatians 2:14 Some translations continue the quotation through v. 16 or v. 21.
  5. Galatians 2:16 Or by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ
  6. Galatians 2:16 Or by the faithfulness of Christ
  7. Galatians 2:16 Lit law all flesh will not
  8. Galatians 2:17 Or servant
  9. Galatians 2:18 Lit rebuild those things that
  10. Galatians 2:19 Other textual traditions place I have been crucified with Christ in v. 20.
  11. Galatians 2:20 Or flesh

Paul Opposes Cephas

11 When Cephas(A) came to Antioch,(B) I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James,(C) he used to eat with the Gentiles.(D) But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.(E) 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas(F) was led astray.

14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel,(G) I said to Cephas(H) in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew.(I) How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?(J)

15 “We who are Jews by birth(K) and not sinful Gentiles(L) 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law,(M) but by faith in Jesus Christ.(N) So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[a] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.(O)

17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners,(P) doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!(Q) 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

19 “For through the law I died to the law(R) so that I might live for God.(S) 20 I have been crucified with Christ(T) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.(U) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,(V) who loved me(W) and gave himself for me.(X) 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,(Y) Christ died for nothing!”[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:16 Or but through the faithfulness of … justified on the basis of the faithfulness of
  2. Galatians 2:21 Some interpreters end the quotation after verse 14.