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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/galatians/2-21.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/48_Gal_02_21.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Galatians 2:21 - Paul Confronts Cephas" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="I do not set aside the grace of God. 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For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die. <a href="/esv/galatians/2.htm">English Standard Version</a> I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. <a href="/bsb/galatians/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. <a href="/blb/galatians/2.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the Law, then Christ died for naught." <a href="/kjv/galatians/2.htm">King James Bible</a> I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. <a href="/nkjv/galatians/2.htm">New King James Version</a> I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” <a href="/nasb_/galatians/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” <a href="/nasb/galatians/2.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/galatians/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” <a href="/lsb/galatians/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” <a href="/amp/galatians/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a> I do not ignore or nullify the [gracious gift of the] grace of God [His amazing, unmerited favor], for if righteousness comes through [observing] the Law, then Christ died needlessly. [His suffering and death would have had no purpose whatsoever.]” <a href="/csb/galatians/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. <a href="/hcsb/galatians/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. <a href="/asv/galatians/2.htm">American Standard Version</a> I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought. <a href="/cev/galatians/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> I don't turn my back on God's gift of undeserved grace. If we can be acceptable to God by obeying the Law, it was useless for Christ to die. <a href="/erv/galatians/2.htm">English Revised Version</a> I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought. <a href="/gwt/galatians/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> I don't reject God's kindness. If we receive God's approval by obeying laws, then Christ's death was pointless. <a href="/gnt/galatians/2.htm">Good News Translation</a> I refuse to reject the grace of God. But if a person is put right with God through the Law, it means that Christ died for nothing! <a href="/isv/galatians/2.htm">International Standard Version</a> I do not misapply God's grace, for if righteousness comes about by doing what the Law requires, then the Messiah died for nothing. <a href="/msb/galatians/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. <a href="/net/galatians/2.htm">NET Bible</a> I do not set aside God's grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing! <a href="/nheb/galatians/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> I do not make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing." <a href="/wbt/galatians/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness is attainable by the law, then Christ hath died in vain. <a href="/wey/galatians/2.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> I do not nullify the grace of God; for if acquittal from guilt is obtainable through the Law, then Christ has died in vain." <a href="/web/galatians/2.htm">World English Bible</a> I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/galatians/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> I do not make the grace of God void, for if righteousness [is] through law—then Christ died in vain. <a href="/blb/galatians/2.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the Law, then Christ died for naught." <a href="/ylt/galatians/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> I do not make void the grace of God, for if righteousness be through law -- then Christ died in vain. <a href="/slt/galatians/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> I put not away the grace of God for if justice through the law, Christ died in vain.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/galatians/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> I cast not away the grace of God. For if justice be by the law, then Christ died in vain. <a href="/cpdv/galatians/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> I do not reject the grace of God. For if justice is through the law, then Christ died in vain. <a href="/nabre/galatians/2.htm">New American Bible</a> I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. <a href="/nrsvce/galatians/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/galatians/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by means of the law, then Christ died in vain. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/galatians/2.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> I do not reject the grace of God, for if righteousness is by The Written Law, The Messiah died for nothing. <div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/galatians/2.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> I do not set aside the grace of God: for if righteousness be through law, then Christ has died in vain. <a href="/godbey/galatians/2.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness was through law, then Christ died gratuitiously. <a href="/haweis/galatians/2.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> I do not set at nought the grace of God; for if righteousness came by the law, truly Christ hath died in vain.<CM> <a href="/mace/galatians/2.htm">Mace New Testament</a> I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if justification be by the law, Christ died to no purpose. <a href="/wey/galatians/2.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> I do not nullify the grace of God; for if acquittal from guilt is obtainable through the Law, then Christ has died in vain." <a href="/worrell/galatians/2.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> I do not set aside the grace of God; for, if righteousness is through law, then Christ died needlessly! <a href="/worsley/galatians/2.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> I do not frustate the grace of God: for if righteousness be by the law, then Christ died in vain. <a href="/parallel/galatians/2-21.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jv8Ri4CeT34?start=416" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/galatians/2.htm">Paul Confronts Cephas</a> …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. 21<a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: Ouk (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/114.htm" title="114: athetō (V-PIA-1S) -- From a compound of a and a derivative of tithemi; to set aside, i.e. to disesteem, neutralize or violate.">I do not set aside</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/5485.htm" title="5485: charin (N-AFS) -- From chairo; graciousness, of manner or act.">grace</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theou (N-GMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">of God.</a> <a href="/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.">For</a> <a href="/greek/1487.htm" title="1487: ei (Conj) -- If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.">if</a> <a href="/greek/1343.htm" title="1343: dikaiosynē (N-NFS) -- From dikaios; equity; specially justification.">righteousness comes</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">through</a> <a href="/greek/3551.htm" title="3551: nomou (N-GMS) -- From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.">the law,</a> <a href="/greek/686.htm" title="686: ara (Conj) -- Then, therefore, since. Probably from airo; a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive."></a> <a href="/greek/5547.htm" title="5547: Christos (N-NMS) -- Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.">Christ</a> <a href="/greek/599.htm" title="599: apethanen (V-AIA-3S) -- To be dying, be about to die, wither, decay. From apo and thnesko; to die off.">died</a> <a href="/greek/1432.htm" title="1432: dōrean (Adv) -- As a free gift, without payment, freely. Accusative case of dorea as adverb; gratuitously.">for nothing.</a> <div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/romans/3-21.htm">Romans 3:21-24</a> But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. / And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, / for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ... <a href="/romans/11-6.htm">Romans 11:6</a> And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. <a href="/philippians/3-9.htm">Philippians 3:9</a> and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith. <a href="/ephesians/2-8.htm">Ephesians 2:8-9</a> For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, / not by works, so that no one can boast. <a href="/romans/4-4.htm">Romans 4:4-5</a> Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. / However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. <a href="/romans/5-20.htm">Romans 5:20-21</a> The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, / so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. <a href="/2_corinthians/5-21.htm">2 Corinthians 5:21</a> God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. <a href="/titus/3-5.htm">Titus 3:5-7</a> He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. / This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, / so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life. <a href="/hebrews/7-18.htm">Hebrews 7:18-19</a> So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless / (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. <a href="/romans/10-3.htm">Romans 10:3-4</a> Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. / For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes. <a href="/isaiah/64-6.htm">Isaiah 64:6</a> Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. <a href="/jeremiah/23-6.htm">Jeremiah 23:6</a> In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. <a href="/isaiah/45-24.htm">Isaiah 45:24-25</a> Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame. / In the LORD all descendants of Israel will be justified and will exult. <a href="/isaiah/53-11.htm">Isaiah 53:11</a> After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. <a href="/habakkuk/2-4.htm">Habakkuk 2:4</a> Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but the righteous will live by faith—</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.do not.<a href="/galatians/2-18.htm">Galatians 2:18</a> For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.<a href="/psalms/33-10.htm">Psalm 33:10</a> The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.<a href="/mark/7-9.htm">Mark 7:9</a> And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.righteousness.<a href="/galatians/2-16.htm">Galatians 2:16</a> Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.<a href="/galatians/3-21.htm">Galatians 3:21</a> Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.<a href="/galatians/5-2.htm">Galatians 5:2-4</a> Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing… Christ.<a href="/isaiah/49-4.htm">Isaiah 49:4</a> Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.<a href="/jeremiah/8-8.htm">Jeremiah 8:8</a> How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.<a href="/1_corinthians/15-2.htm">1 Corinthians 15:2,14,17</a> By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/galatians/2-17.htm">Acquittal</a> <a href="/hebrews/7-11.htm">Attainable</a> <a href="/galatians/2-20.htm">Christ</a> <a href="/galatians/2-19.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/galatians/2-19.htm">Died</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/8-11.htm">Effect</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/1-19.htm">Frustrate</a> <a href="/galatians/2-6.htm">Gained</a> <a href="/galatians/2-9.htm">Grace</a> <a href="/galatians/2-17.htm">Guilt</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/8-24.htm">Justification</a> <a href="/galatians/2-19.htm">Law</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/11-7.htm">Nought</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/1-28.htm">Nullify</a> <a href="/galatians/2-16.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/galatians/2-17.htm">Righteousness</a> <a href="/galatians/2-2.htm">Vain</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/15-14.htm">Void</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/69-27.htm">Acquittal</a> <a href="/hebrews/7-11.htm">Attainable</a> <a href="/galatians/3-1.htm">Christ</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-20.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/philippians/2-27.htm">Died</a> <a href="/galatians/3-17.htm">Effect</a> <a href="/ezra/4-5.htm">Frustrate</a> <a href="/hebrews/11-2.htm">Gained</a> <a href="/galatians/3-18.htm">Grace</a> <a href="/galatians/3-8.htm">Guilt</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-52.htm">Justification</a> <a href="/galatians/3-5.htm">Law</a> <a href="/2_thessalonians/2-8.htm">Nought</a> <a href="/galatians/3-17.htm">Nullify</a> <a href="/galatians/3-4.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/galatians/3-6.htm">Righteousness</a> <a href="/galatians/3-4.htm">Vain</a> <a href="/galatians/3-15.htm">Void</a><div class="vheading2">Galatians 2</div>1. <a href="/galatians/2-1.htm">He shows when he went up again to Jerusalem, and for what purpose;</a> 3. <a href="/galatians/2-3.htm">and that Titus was not circumcised;</a> 11. <a href="/galatians/2-11.htm">and that he resisted Peter, and told him the reason;</a> 14. <a href="/galatians/2-14.htm">why he and others, being Jews, believe in Christ to be justified by faith, and not by works;</a> 20. <a href="/galatians/2-20.htm">and that they live not in sin, who are so justified.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/galatians/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/galatians/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/galatians/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>I do not set aside the grace of God. This phrase emphasizes the centrality of grace in the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul is asserting that he does not nullify or disregard the grace that God has provided through Jesus Christ. In the context of Galatians, Paul is addressing the Judaizers who were teaching that adherence to the Mosaic Law was necessary for salvation. By stating he does not set aside grace, Paul underscores that salvation is a gift from God, not something earned by human effort or adherence to the law. This aligns with <a href="/ephesians/2-8.htm">Ephesians 2:8-9</a>, which emphasizes salvation by grace through faith, not by works. The grace of God is a recurring theme in Paul's letters, highlighting the unmerited favor bestowed upon believers.For if righteousness comes through the law, Here, Paul is addressing the misconception that righteousness, or being in right standing with God, can be achieved through the law. The law, given to Moses, was never intended to be a means of salvation but rather to reveal sin and point to the need for a Savior (<a href="/romans/3-20.htm">Romans 3:20</a>). The historical context involves the early church's struggle with integrating Gentile believers and the role of the Mosaic Law. Paul argues that if the law could impart righteousness, then the sacrificial system and ultimately the sacrifice of Christ would be unnecessary. This phrase challenges the belief that human efforts or religious rituals can achieve divine approval.then Christ died for nothing. This statement is a powerful conclusion to Paul's argument. If adherence to the law could achieve righteousness, then the death of Christ would be rendered meaningless. The crucifixion of Jesus is central to Christian theology, representing the ultimate sacrifice for sin and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as <a href="/isaiah/53.htm">Isaiah 53</a>. By stating that Christ died for nothing if the law could save, Paul emphasizes the sufficiency and necessity of Christ's atoning work on the cross. This underscores the belief that salvation is found exclusively in Jesus Christ, as affirmed in <a href="/john/14-6.htm">John 14:6</a>, where Jesus declares Himself the way, the truth, and the life. The phrase serves as a stark reminder of the futility of relying on human efforts for salvation and the profound significance of Christ's sacrifice.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/p/paul_the_apostle.htm">Paul the Apostle</a> The author of the letter to the Galatians, addressing the issue of justification by faith versus works of the law. 2. <a href="/topical/g/galatia.htm">Galatia</a> A region in modern-day Turkey where the recipients of the letter resided. The Galatian churches were struggling with the influence of Judaizers who insisted on adherence to the Mosaic Law for salvation. 3. <a href="/topical/c/christ's_sacrifice.htm">Christ's Sacrifice</a> The central event referenced in this verse, emphasizing the sufficiency of Christ's death for salvation. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_law.htm">The Law</a> Refers to the Mosaic Law, which some were advocating as necessary for righteousness. 5. <a href="/topical/g/grace_of_god.htm">Grace of God</a> The unmerited favor and love of God, which is the basis for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_sufficiency_of_christ's_sacrifice.htm">The Sufficiency of Christ's Sacrifice</a> Christ's death is fully sufficient for our salvation. Adding to it with works of the law undermines the grace of God. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_law.htm">The Role of the Law</a> The law serves to reveal sin and our need for a Savior, not as a means to achieve righteousness. <a href="/topical/l/living_by_grace.htm">Living by Grace</a> Embrace a life led by the grace of God, understanding that our righteousness is a gift, not earned. <a href="/topical/r/rejecting_legalism.htm">Rejecting Legalism</a> Legalism, or the belief that adherence to the law can earn salvation, is contrary to the gospel of grace. <a href="/topical/f/faith_and_works.htm">Faith and Works</a> While works are a natural outflow of genuine faith, they are not the basis of our salvation.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_galatians_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Galatians 2</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_pursuit_of_righteousness.htm">What is the pursuit of righteousness?</a> <a href="/q/how_to_lead_like_jesus.htm">What are imputed and imparted righteousness?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_'feet_like_a_deer'_mean.htm">How do justification and sanctification differ?</a> <a href="/q/does_1_peter_4_8_conflict_with_salvation_texts.htm">Does (1 Peter 4:8) saying “love covers a multitude of sins” conflict with other texts that emphasize salvation only through Christ’s atonement? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/galatians/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(21) In thus attaching himself devotedly to Christ, the Christian escapes the charge of refusing and thwarting the free gift of justification which God has offered to him in His Son. He has made his choice of Christ, and not of the Law. On the other hand, if he had chosen the Law, and gone to it, and not to Christ, in his search for righteousness, he would have practically declared the death of Christ to be a useless and unnecessary sacrifice.Frustrate.--An exactly literal translation of the Greek word, which means "to render nugatory or ineffectual." The grace of God goes forth with a certain mission to perform; but the Judaising party, by still clinging to the Law, prevented it from taking effect, and made it "return void" unto its Giver.If righteousness come by the law.--What all men seek is justification in the sight of God. This is given to the just or righteous. But there were two ways of becoming thus just or righteous. The Law professed to make righteous those who complied with its provisions. But this was only a profession, for no one could really keep the Law. The Christian, therefore, rightly falls back upon faith in Christ, which brings him both an imputed righteousness, and also, in part, at least, a real righteousness. A deep and genuine faith in Christ is allowed to atone for the many unavoidable breaches of the Law, and that faith by degrees operates a real and vital change in the character and life of the man.Then Christ is dead in vain.--If the Law had been enough to give actual righteousness to its votaries, and with righteousness the judicial declaration of freedom from guilt, then there would have been nothing for Christ to die for. His death would have had no object and been of no benefit to mankind.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/galatians/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 21. - I do not frustrate the grace of God (οὐκ ἀθετῶ τὴν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ); I do not reject the grace of God. As I should be doing, it; instead of resting with "glorified" (<a href="/1_peter/1-8.htm">1 Peter 1:8</a>) satisfaction in the fatherly love and complacency with which God regards me in Christ, I began to give anxious heed to what the Law prescribes touching things or persons clean or unclean, and to deem it possible and needful to secure acceptableness with God through works of ceremonial performance. If it were only for one single reason alone, I do not, I cannot, thus slight and set at nought the state of grace with all its attendant blessings into which God has in Christ Jesus brought me. The "grace of God" presents that entire notion of the kingdom of grace which the apostle sets forth, and on which he descants with such glowing animation, in the fifth chapter of his Epistle to the Romans. The term of itself stands in vivid contrast to that slavish, anxious, never assured working for acceptance, which characterized the Jewish legalist, and characterizes the legalist Christian as well. As the apostle does not write ἐγὼ οὐκ ἀθετῶ, which would mean, "I do not set aside, not I," he is not to be read as if just now emphasizing a personal contrast between himself, and either St. Peter or the Judaizers with whom St. Peter was then to outward appearance taking sides; he is at present simply winding up his recital of his remonstrance at Antioch with the one terse argument, with which he then justified his own position, and, as if with a sledge-hammer, at once demolished the position of the Judaizers. The verb ἀθετῶ means "reject," "turn from as from a thing unworthy of regard;" as in <a href="/mark/7-9.htm">Mark 7:9</a>, "Ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition;" <a href="/luke/7-30.htm">Luke 7:30</a>, "The Pharisees and lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God;" <a href="/1_thessalonians/4-8.htm">1 Thessalonians 4:8</a>, "He that rejecteth [our testimony touching this], rejeeteth not man, but God;" <a href="/hebrews/10-28.htm">Hebrews 10:28</a>, "A man that hath set at nought Moses' Law;" in which last passage it indicates, but without itself fully describing, a more aggressive disobedience. The rendering "made void," adopted by the Revisers, in the sense of "disannul," is doubtless fully authenticated by <a href="/galatians/3-15.htm">Galatians 3:15</a>; <a href="/1_timothy/5-12.htm">1 Timothy 5:12</a>; <a href="/hebrews/9-18.htm">Hebrews 9:18</a>. Since even an apostle could not "disannul" the "grace of God" viewed in itself, this sense of the word, if adopted, would, as well as the perhaps questionable rendering of our Authorized Version, "frustrate," apply to the previous work of Divine grace wrought upon the apostle's own soul. But the logical connection of the following clause is more easily shown by our reverting to the sense before given to the verb, which in the New Testament is the more usual one. For if righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain (εἰ γὰρ διὰ νόμου δικαιοσύνη ἄρα Ξριστὸς δωρεὰν ἀπέθανεν); for if through the Law is righteousness, then did Christ for nought die. This one reason is decisive. The sole reason why the Son of God came into the world to suffer death was to do away our sins and make us righteous with God. But if sin can be purged by the purifications of the Law, and cleanness before God is procurable by Levitical ceremonies, then there was no need for this; then the Crucifixion, for this one end ordained and from the beginning of time prepared for by the Father, and fur this one end, of his own free choice gone forward to, brought about, and undergone by Christ himself, was a simply superfluous sacrifice. We might have been saved, nay, have perchance saved ourselves, without it. It is impossible to find in all Scripture a more decisive passage than this in proof both of the fact of, the atonement and of its supreme importance in the Christian system. This is emphatically Christ's great work. Compared with this, all besides is either subsidiary or derivative, Δωρεάν, (as a mere gift,) "for nought;" that is, without cause, there being no call or just occasion for it; thus, <a href="/john/15-25.htm">John 15:25</a>, "They hated me without cause;" <a href="/1_samuel/19-5.htm">1 Samuel 19:5</a>, Septuagint, "Slay David without a cause;" <a href="/ezekiel/6-10.htm">Ezekiel 6:10</a>, Septuagint, "I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them;" Ecclus. 29:6, "He hath got him an enemy without cause." The apostle adds nothing as to the effect of his remonstrance. It is impossible, however, to doubt that, so instinct as it was with the power of the Holy Spirit, it proved successful, not only in the healing of the mischief which had begun to show itself in the Antiochian Church, but also in its effect upon St. Peter. Nothing has transpired of any later intercourse between the two apostles. But the thorough honesty which in the main was one of St. Peter's great characteristics, notwithstanding the perplexed action in which from time to time he got involved, through the warmth of his sympathetic affections and his sometimes too hasty impulsiveness, would be sure to make him pre-eminently tractable to the voice of a true-speaking and holy friend; and, moreover, in the present instance, St. Paul was appealing to sentiments which he had himself recently proved at Jerusalem to be deeply operative in his own bosom. How deeply operative, is further evinced in his own two Epistles, written some eight or ten years later than this Epistle, and addressed also in part to the same Galatian Churches; in which he not only weaves into his language not a few expressions and turns of thought which have all the appearance of being borrowed from Epistles of St. Paul, but also in the second of them makes direct mention of those Epistles, speaking of them as standing on the footing of "the other Scriptures," and of their author as "our beloved brother Paul;" notwithstanding that one of those very writings contains the extremely plain-spoken account of that sad fall of his at Antioch. which we have here been considering. (On St. Paul's later relations with St. Barnabas, see above on ver. 13.) ADDITIONAL NOTE. <a href="/commentaries/galatians/2-21.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>I do not set aside ἀθετῶ (athetō) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_114.htm">Strong's 114: </a> From a compound of a and a derivative of tithemi; to set aside, i.e. to disesteem, neutralize or violate. the τὴν (tēn) Article - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. grace χάριν (charin) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5485.htm">Strong's 5485: </a> From chairo; graciousness, of manner or act. of God. Θεοῦ (Theou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. For γὰρ (gar) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1063.htm">Strong's 1063: </a> For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. if εἰ (ei) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1487.htm">Strong's 1487: </a> If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. righteousness [comes] δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1343.htm">Strong's 1343: </a> From dikaios; equity; specially justification. through διὰ (dia) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. the Law, νόμου (nomou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3551.htm">Strong's 3551: </a> From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively. Christ Χριστὸς (Christos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5547.htm">Strong's 5547: </a> Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus. died ἀπέθανεν (apethanen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_599.htm">Strong's 599: </a> To be dying, be about to die, wither, decay. From apo and thnesko; to die off. for nothing.” δωρεὰν (dōrean) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_1432.htm">Strong's 1432: </a> As a free gift, without payment, freely. Accusative case of dorea as adverb; gratuitously. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/galatians/2-21.htm">Galatians 2:21 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/galatians/2-21.htm">Galatians 2:21 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/galatians/2-21.htm">Galatians 2:21 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/galatians/2-21.htm">Galatians 2:21 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/galatians/2-21.htm">Galatians 2:21 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/galatians/2-21.htm">Galatians 2:21 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/galatians/2-21.htm">Galatians 2:21 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/galatians/2-21.htm">Galatians 2:21 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/galatians/2-21.htm">Galatians 2:21 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/galatians/2-21.htm">Galatians 2:21 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/galatians/2-21.htm">NT Letters: Galatians 2:21 I don't make void the grace (Gal. 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