Galatians 2:20

"For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God."

Key Reflection

In Galatians 2:20, Paul expresses his understanding of justification by faith rather than by works of the law. For a first-century Jew, the law was not just a set of rules but also a source of identity and righteousness before God. By saying he died to the law, Paul means he no longer sought righteousness through adherence to the Mosaic Law, recognizing it as insufficient for salvation. Instead, he now lives to serve and please God, reflecting the transformative experience of faith in Christ among his audience.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 20. I am crucified with Christ. In the previous verse, Paul had said that he was dead. In this verse he states what he meant by it, and shows that he did not wish to be understood as saying that he was inactive, or that he was literally insensible to the appeals made to him by other beings and objects. In respect to one thing he was dead; to all that was truly great and noble he was alive. To understand the remarkable phrase, "I am crucified with Christ," we may remark, (1.) that this was the way in which Christ was put to death. He suffered on a cross, and thus became literally dead. (2.) In a sense similar to this, Paul became dead to the law, to the world, and to sin.

Related Verses

More from Galatians 2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion