Galatians 2:18

Galatians 2:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
• New International Version (NIV)If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

Context of Galatians 2:18

16know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 17But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not! If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker. 19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God. 20I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Galatians 2:18 word by word

εἰ γὰρ ἃ κατέλυσα, ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδομῶ, παραβάτην ἐμαυτὸν συνιστάνω·Read the interlinear

• ·γάρgar · forG1063
• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• I rebuildοἰκοδομέωoikodomeō · to buildG3618
• I rebuildπάλινpalin · againG3825
• whatοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• I have already torn downκαταλύωkataluō · to destroy/lodgeG2647
• I proveσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
• myselfἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
• a lawbreakerπαραβάτηςparabatēs · transgresorG3848

Cross-references for Galatians 2:18

• Galatians 2:4This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
• Galatians 4:9But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
• Galatians 5:11Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
• Romans 14:15If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.
• 1 Corinthians 8:11So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.

Commentaries on Galatians 2:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18For if I build again the things which I destroyed - If I act like a Jew, and enjoin the observance of the law on the Gentiles, which I have repeatedly asserted and proved to be abolished by the death of Christ, then I build up what I destroyed, and thus make myself a transgressor, by not observing the law in that way in which I appear to enjoin the observance of it upon others.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18For if I build again the things which I destroyed - Paul here uses the first person; but he evidently intends it as a general proposition, and means that if anyone does it he becomes a transgressor. The sense is, that if a man, having removed or destroyed that which was evil, again introduces it or establishes it, he does wrong, and is a transgressor of the Law of God. The particular application here, as it seems to me, is to the subject of circumcision…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-19Verses 15-19 Paul, having thus shown he was not inferior to any apostle, not to Peter himself, speaks of the great foundation doctrine of the gospel. For what did we believe in Christ? Was it not that we might be justified by the faith of Christ? If so, is it not foolish to go back to the law, and to expect to be justified by the merit of moral works, or sacrifices, or ceremonies? The occasion of this declaration doubtless arose from the ceremonial law…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18I prove myself to be a lawbreaker: Abandoning faith and returning to the law places a person under the law's authority, where everyone faces God’s judgment (Romans 3:10–12, 23–24; see Hebrews 6:1–8). This act is a serious sin against Christ (Galatians 5:2–4; compare Hebrews 6:4–6). See also study note on 2:19. If I rebuild: This refers to insisting on following Jewish laws about food and circumcision (Galatians 2:11–13). When Jesus died on the cross, he…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Greek, "For if the things which I overthrew (by the faith of Christ), those very things I build up again (namely, legal righteousness, by subjecting myself to the law), I prove myself (literally, 'I commend myself') a transgressor." Instead of commending yourself as you sought to do (Ga 2:12, end), you merely commend yourself as a transgressor. The "I" is intended by Paul for Peter to take to himself, as it is his case, not Paul's own, that is…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 2:18

• Justification

In the dictionaries

• Add
• Blame
• Bondage
• Conference
• Crucify
• Forward
• Live
• Pillar
• Remember
• Withstand

Commentaries on Galatians 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings