Galatians 2:20
What does Galatians 2:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 2:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 2:20 means
Paul describes the believer’s union with Christ: “I have been crucified with Christ.” The old self, condemned under the Law, has died. Now Christ lives in the believer, and the present life in the body is lived by faith in the Son of God. This faith is relational and personal—the Son loved him and gave Himself up for him. Justification and sanctification flow from this union: Christ’s life animates the believer’s obedience, not the Law’s threats. The verse centers the Christian life on Christ’s person and sacrifice, grounding assurance and transformation in what He has done and continues to do within His people.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I have been put to death on the cross with Christ; still I am living; no longer I, but Christ is living in me; and that life which I now am living in the flesh I am living by faith, the faith of the Son of God, who in love for me, gave himself up for me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862with Christ I have been crucified, and live no more do I, and Christ doth live in me; and that which I now live in the flesh--in the faith I live of the Son of God, who did love me and did give himself for me;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I live, now not I: but Christ liveth in me. And that I live now in the flesh: I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and delivered himself for me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I am crucified with Christ, and no longer live, I, but Christ lives in me; but [in] that I now live in flesh, I live by faith, the [faith] of the Son ofGod, who has loved me and given himself for me.
Context
Building on verse 19’s death to the Law, verse 20 gives the positive reality: life in union with the crucified and risen Christ, sustained by ongoing faith. This is the heart of Paul’s gospel and the antidote to legalism and hypocrisy. The final verse, 21, will state the stark alternative: either righteousness is by grace through Christ’s death, or the Law still saves. There is no middle ground without emptying the cross of its saving purpose.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, who isthe faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;
- 1 John 4:9
Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.
- 2 Corinthians 1:24
Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in faith ye stand fast.
- Colossians 2:11
in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;
- 1 Thessalonians 5:10
who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
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