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

16yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. 17But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages sin? Absolutely not! But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law. 19For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. 20I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:18 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• I buildοἰκοδομέωoikodomeō · to buildG3618
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• the thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• I destroyedκαταλύωkataluō · to destroy/lodgeG2647
• I makeσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
• myselfἐμαυτοῦemautou emautō emauton · myselfG1683
• a transgressorπαραβάτηςparabatēs · transgresorG3848

Cross-references for Galatians 2:18

• Galatians 2:4Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves.
• Galatians 4:9But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?
• Galatians 5:11Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.
• Romans 14:15For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died.
• 1 Corinthians 8:11So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed.

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