Add parallel Print Page Options

The Justification of Jews and Gentiles

15 We are Jews by birth[a] and not Gentile sinners,[b] 16 yet we know[c] that no one[d] is justified by the works of the law[e] but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.[f] And[g] we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ[h] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one[i] will be justified. 17 But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages[j] sin? Absolutely not! 18 But if I build up again those things I once destroyed,[k] I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law.[l] 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ,[m] and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So[n] the life I now live in the body,[o] I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God,[p] who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside[q] God’s grace, because if righteousness[r] could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing![s]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:15 tn Grk “by nature.”
  2. Galatians 2:15 tn Grk “and not sinners from among the Gentiles.”
  3. Galatians 2:16 tn Grk “yet knowing”; the participle εἰδότες (eidotes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
  4. Galatians 2:16 tn Grk “no man,” but ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women.
  5. Galatians 2:16 sn The law is a reference to the law of Moses.
  6. Galatians 2:16 tn Or “faith in Jesus Christ.” A decision is difficult here. Though traditionally translated “faith in Jesus Christ,” an increasing number of NT scholars are arguing that πίστις Χριστοῦ (pistis Christou) and similar phrases in Paul (here and in v. 20; Rom 3:22, 26; Gal 3:22; Eph 3:12; Phil 3:9) involve a subjective genitive and mean “Christ’s faith” or “Christ’s faithfulness” (cf., e.g., G. Howard, “The ‘Faith of Christ’,” ExpTim 85 [1974]: 212-15; R. B. Hays, The Faith of Jesus Christ [SBLDS]; Morna D. Hooker, “Πίστις Χριστοῦ,” NTS 35 [1989]: 321-42). Noteworthy among the arguments for the subjective genitive view is that when πίστις takes a personal genitive it is almost never an objective genitive (cf. Matt 9:2, 22, 29; Mark 2:5; 5:34; 10:52; Luke 5:20; 7:50; 8:25, 48; 17:19; 18:42; 22:32; Rom 1:8; 12; 3:3; 4:5, 12, 16; 1 Cor 2:5; 15:14, 17; 2 Cor 10:15; Phil 2:17; Col 1:4; 2:5; 1 Thess 1:8; 3:2, 5, 10; 2 Thess 1:3; Titus 1:1; Phlm 6; 1 Pet 1:9, 21; 2 Pet 1:5). On the other hand, the objective genitive view has its adherents: A. Hultgren, “The Pistis Christou Formulations in Paul,” NovT 22 (1980): 248-63; J. D. G. Dunn, “Once More, ΠΙΣΤΙΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ,” SBL Seminar Papers, 1991, 730-44. Most commentaries on Romans and Galatians usually side with the objective view. sn On the phrase translated the faithfulness of Christ, ExSyn 116, which notes that the grammar is not decisive, nevertheless suggests that “the faith/faithfulness of Christ is not a denial of faith in Christ as a Pauline concept (for the idea is expressed in many of the same contexts, only with the verb πιστεύω rather than the noun), but implies that the object of faith is a worthy object, for he himself is faithful.” Though Paul elsewhere teaches justification by faith, this presupposes that the object of our faith is reliable and worthy of such faith.
  7. Galatians 2:16 tn In Greek this is a continuation of the preceding sentence, but the construction is too long and complex for contemporary English style, so a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  8. Galatians 2:16 tn Or “by faith in Christ.” See comment above on “the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.”
  9. Galatians 2:16 tn Or “no human being”; Grk “flesh.”
  10. Galatians 2:17 tn Or “does Christ serve the interests of sin?”; or “is Christ an agent for sin?” See BDAG 230-31 s.v. διάκονος 2.
  11. Galatians 2:18 tn Or “once tore down.”
  12. Galatians 2:18 tn Traditionally, “that I am a transgressor.”
  13. Galatians 2:20 tn The NA28 Greek text, NRSV, NJB, TEV, HCSB, and a few others place the phrase “I have been crucified with Christ” at the end of v. 19, but most English translations place these words at the beginning of v. 20.
  14. Galatians 2:20 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “So” to bring out the connection of the following clauses with the preceding ones. What Paul says here amounts to a result or inference drawn from his co-crucifixion with Christ and the fact that Christ now lives in him. In Greek this is a continuation of the preceding sentence, but the construction is too long and complex for contemporary English style, so a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  15. Galatians 2:20 tn Grk “flesh.”
  16. Galatians 2:20 tc A number of significant witnesses (P46 B D* F G) have θεοῦ καὶ Χριστοῦ (theou kai Christou, “of God and Christ”) instead of υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ (huiou tou theou, “the Son of God”), found in the majority of mss, including several important ones (א A C D1 Ψ 0278 33 1175 1241 1739 1881 2464 M lat sy co). The construction “of God and Christ” appears to be motivated as a more explicit affirmation of the deity of Christ (following as it apparently does the Granville Sharp rule). Although Paul certainly has an elevated Christology, explicit “God-talk” with reference to Jesus does not normally appear until the later books (cf., e.g., Titus 2:13, Phil 2:10-11, and probably Rom 9:5). For different arguments but the same textual conclusions, see TCGNT 524.tn Or “I live by faith in the Son of God.” See note on “faithfulness of Jesus Christ” in v. 16 for the rationale behind the translation “the faithfulness of the Son of God.”sn On the phrase because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, ExSyn 116, which notes that the grammar is not decisive, nevertheless suggests that “the faith/faithfulness of Christ is not a denial of faith in Christ as a Pauline concept (for the idea is expressed in many of the same contexts, only with the verb πιστεύω rather than the noun), but implies that the object of faith is a worthy object, for he himself is faithful.” Though Paul elsewhere teaches justification by faith, this presupposes that the object of our faith is reliable and worthy of such faith.
  17. Galatians 2:21 tn Or “I do not declare invalid,” “I do not nullify.”
  18. Galatians 2:21 tn Or “justification.”
  19. Galatians 2:21 tn Or “without cause,” “for no purpose.”

15 We hēmeis ourselves are Jews Ioudaios by birth physis and kai not ou Gentile ethnos sinners hamartōlos; 16 yet de we know oida that hoti no ou one anthrōpos is justified dikaioō by ek the works ergon of the law nomos but ean mē through dia faith pistis in Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos. And kai we hēmeis have come to believe pisteuō in eis Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, so that hina we might be justified dikaioō by ek faith pistis in Christ Christos, and kai not ou by doing ek the works ergon of the law nomos, since hoti no ou one pas will be justified dikaioō by ek the works ergon of the law nomos. 17 But de if ei, while seeking zēteō to be justified dikaioō in en Christ Christos, we ourselves autos have also kai been found heuriskō to be sinners hamartōlos, is Christ Christos then ara a servant diakonos of sin hamartia? Of course not ! 18 But gar if ei I build up oikodomeō again palin those houtos things hos I once tore down katalyō, then I demonstrate synistēmi that I emautou am a lawbreaker parabatēs. 19 For gar through dia the law nomos I egō died apothnēskō to the law nomos so that hina I might live zaō for God theos. I have been crucified systauroō with Christ Christos; 20 and de I egō no longer ouketi live zaō, but de Christ Christos lives zaō in en me egō. And de the hos life I now nyn live zaō in en the flesh sarx, I live zaō by en faith pistis in ho the ho Son hyios of ho God theos, who ho loved agapaō me egō and kai gave paradidōmi himself heautou for hyper me egō. 21 I do not ou nullify atheteō the ho grace charis of ho God theos; for gar if ei righteousness dikaiosynē could be gained through dia the law nomos, then ara Christ Christos died apothnēskō for nothing dōrean!

Read full chapter