Galatians 2:15
What does Galatians 2:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 2:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 2:15 means
Paul begins from common Jewish identity: “We being Jews by nature,” not Gentile “sinners” in the conventional Jewish sense. Yet this acknowledgment serves to undermine any claim of Jewish advantage before God regarding justification. Even those with covenant privileges must admit that their status does not make them righteous. The categories of Jew and Gentile do not determine who is justified; faith does. By starting here, Paul shows that his critique of legalism is not anti-Jewish but grounded in the recognition that the Law never justified anyone, even those most closely tied to it by birth.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000We being Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
KJV
King James Version · 1611We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901We being Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949We being Jews by birth, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862we by nature Jews, and not sinners of the nations,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752We by nature are Jews: and not of the Gentiles, sinners.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890We, Jews by nature, and not sinners of [the] nations,
Context
After confronting Cephas, Paul turns to the theological basis for his rebuke. Verse 15 sets the stage: speaking as a Jew to Jews, he prepares to show that covenant status cannot justify. Verse 16 will state the central affirmation about justification by faith in Christ alone. The flow moves from shared identity to shared need, paving the way for a universal principle that applies to both Jew and Gentile.
v.14But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Cephas before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
v.15This passage
v.16yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
- Ephesians 2:3
among whom we also all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:—
- Ephesians 2:11
Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;
- Romans 4:16
For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
- John 8:39
They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
- Acts 22:21
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Galatians 2
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Galatians 2.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Faith
Explore what the Bible says about faith, its origin, its purpose, and its profound impact on the life of a believer.
Topic
Bible Verses About Hypocrisy
The Bible consistently warns against hypocrisy, emphasizing the importance of genuine faith and actions that align with one's beliefs.
Topic
Bible Verses About Identity in Christ
Discovering our true identity in Christ transforms how we see ourselves and live our lives