Galatians 2:18
What does Galatians 2:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 2:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 2:18 means
If Paul were to rebuild the law-based system he had torn down by preaching Christ, he would demonstrate himself a transgressor. Why? Because reinstating the Law as a means of justification exposes the heart’s failure to keep it perfectly and denies the sufficiency of Christ’s work. To go back is to confess guilt, not attain righteousness. The very Law used to claim standing would instead condemn the one who relies on it. Thus, the attempt to supplement Christ with the Law proves self-defeating, showing the need to rest wholly on the Savior’s finished work.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For if I put up again those things which I gave to destruction, I am seen to be a wrongdoer.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for if the things I threw down, these again I build up, a transgressor I set myself forth;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For if I build up again the things which I have destroyed, I make myself a prevaricator.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For if the things I have thrown down, these I build again, I constitute myself a transgressor.
Context
Having rejected the slander that Christ promotes sin, Paul explains the real transgression: attempting to reestablish the Law as the ground of acceptance before God. This prepares for verse 19’s statement about dying to the law in order to live to God. The movement is from the futility and guilt of law-reliance to the freedom of a new life grounded in union with Christ, elaborated in verses 19–20.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 2:4
and that because of the false brethren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
- Galatians 5:11
But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away.
- 1 Corinthians 8:11
For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
- Galatians 4:9
but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?
- Galatians 2:21
I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought.
- Galatians 2:12
For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.
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