15 “We are (A)Jews by nature and not (B)sinners from the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless, knowing that (C)a person is not justified by works of [a]the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by (D)faith in Christ and not by works of [b]the Law; since (E)by works of [c]the Law no [d]flesh will be justified. 17 But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found (F)sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? [e](G)Far from it! 18 For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I (H)prove myself to be a wrongdoer. 19 For through [f]the Law I (I)died to [g]the Law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been (J)crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but (K)Christ lives in me; and [h]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in (L)the Son of God, who (M)loved me and (N)gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for (O)if righteousness comes through [i]the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:16 Or law
  2. Galatians 2:16 Or law
  3. Galatians 2:16 Or law
  4. Galatians 2:16 Or mortal man
  5. Galatians 2:17 Lit May it never happen!
  6. Galatians 2:19 Or law
  7. Galatians 2:19 Or law
  8. Galatians 2:20 Or insofar as I
  9. Galatians 2:21 Or law

Jews, Like Gentiles, are Saved by Faith

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth, and not gentile sinners, 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by doing what the Law requires,[a] but rather by the faithfulness of Jesus[b] the Messiah.[c] We, too, have believed in the Messiah[d] Jesus so that we might be justified by the faithfulness of[e] the Messiah[f] and not by doing what the Law requires, for no human being[g] will be justified by doing what the Law requires. 17 Now if we, while trying to be justified by the Messiah,[h] have been found to be sinners, does that mean that the Messiah[i] is serving the interests of sin? Of course not! 18 For if I rebuild something that I tore down, I demonstrate that I am a wrongdoer. 19 For through the Law I died to the Law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with the Messiah.[j] 20 I no longer live, but the Messiah[k] lives in me, and the life that I am now living in this body I live by the faithfulness of the Son of God,[l] who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not misapply God’s grace, for if righteousness comes about by doing what the Law requires, then the Messiah[m] died for nothing.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:16 Lit. by works of the law; and so throughout this verse
  2. Galatians 2:16 Or by faith in Jesus
  3. Galatians 2:16 Or Christ
  4. Galatians 2:16 Or Christ
  5. Galatians 2:16 Or by faith in
  6. Galatians 2:16 Or Christ
  7. Galatians 2:16 Lit. no flesh
  8. Galatians 2:17 Or Christ
  9. Galatians 2:17 Or Christ
  10. Galatians 2:19 Or Christ
  11. Galatians 2:20 Or Christ
  12. Galatians 2:20 Or by faith in the Son of God
  13. Galatians 2:21 Or Christ

15 “We who are Jews by birth(A) and not sinful Gentiles(B) 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law,(C) but by faith in Jesus Christ.(D) 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.(E)

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

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

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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.