Galatians 2:16
What does Galatians 2:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 2:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 2:16 means
Here is Paul’s cornerstone claim: a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. Even as Jews, “we believed on Christ Jesus” for justification, confessing that law-keeping cannot render anyone righteous before God. The phrase “no flesh” underscores the universal scope—no human being can attain justification by the law. Faith is not a work added to law-keeping; it is the empty hand receiving Christ, whose righteousness is credited to believers. This verse decisively excludes any system that adds legal observance as a basis of acceptance with God, anchoring salvation in Christ alone.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000yet 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901yet 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Being conscious that a man does not get righteousness by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ, we had faith in Christ Jesus, so that we might get righteousness by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law will no flesh get righteousness.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862having known also that a man is not declared righteous by works of law, if not through the faith of Jesus Christ, also we in Christ Jesus did believe, that we might be declared righteous by the faith of Christ, and not by works of law, wherefore declared righteous by works of law shall be no flesh.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, we also believe in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890but knowing that a man is not justified on the principle of works of law [nor] but by the faith of Jesus Christ, we also have believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified on the principle of [the] faith of Christ; and not of works of law; because on the principle of works of law no flesh shall be justified.
Context
Following the setup in verse 15, Paul states the thesis: justification is by faith in Christ, not by the law. This addresses the heart of the Galatian controversy and explains why Cephas’s behavior was so serious—it contradicted this truth in practice. Verses 17–18 will respond to a predictable objection: does abandoning the law make Christ promote sin? Paul will deny it and argue that returning to the law proves one a transgressor.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 4:13
For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.
- 1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
- Luke 10:25
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
- Revelation 7:14
And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
- John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
- 1 John 1:7
but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
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