Galatians 2:11-21

Holman Christian Standard Bible

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.