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Saturday, September 28th, 2024
the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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THE MESSAGE

Galatians 2:19

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Justification;   Works;   Scofield Reference Index - Law of Moses;   Thompson Chain Reference - Law;   Living Unto God;   The Topic Concordance - Justification;   Law;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Christ Is God;   Justification before God;   Life, Spiritual;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Covenant;   Justificiation;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Old Testament in the New Testament, the;   Sin;   Spirituality;   Union with Christ;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Church;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Galatians, the Epistle to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Circumcision;   Cross, Crucifixion;   Galatians, Letter to the;   Human Free Will;   Life;   Romans, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Antioch;   Council;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Grace;   Law;   Peter;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Atonement;   Brotherly Love;   Galatians Epistle to the;   Law;   Life and Death;   Love;   Marks Stigmata;   Sacrifice (2);   Self- Denial;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Antinomians;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Peter;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Galatians, Epistle to the;   Law in the New Testament;   Sanctification;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for August 22;   Every Day Light - Devotion for December 3;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
Legacy Standard Bible
For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
Simplified Cowboy Version
When I tried to keep the Code, I was condemned because I couldn't do it. So, I gave it all up and trusted Jesus did for me what I couldn't do for myself. Instead of being condemned by the code of Moses, I now live for the brand of God.
Bible in Basic English
For I, through the law, have become dead to the law, so that I might be living to God.
Darby Translation
For *I*, through law, have died to law, that I may live to God.
Christian Standard Bible®
For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ
World English Bible
For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I may live to God.
Weymouth's New Testament
for it is by the Law that I have died to the Law, in order that I may live to God.
King James Version (1611)
For I through ye Law, am dead to the Law, that I might liue vnto God.
Literal Translation
For through Law I died to Law, that I might live to God.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But I thorow the lawe am deed vnto the lawe, that I might lyue vnto God.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for by one law, I am dead to the other law, that I might live unto God:
Amplified Bible
"For through the Law I died to the Law and its demands on me [because salvation is provided through the death and resurrection of Christ], so that I might [from now on] live to God.
American Standard Version
For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.
Revised Standard Version
For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But I thorow ye lawe ame deed to ye lawe: that I myght live vnto God.
Update Bible Version
For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ;
Webster's Bible Translation
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I may live to God.
Young's Literal Translation
for I through law, did die, that to God I may live;
New Century Version
It was the law that put me to death, and I died to the law so that I can now live for God.
New English Translation
For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God.
Berean Standard Bible
For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
Contemporary English Version
It was the Law itself that killed me and freed me from its power, so that I could live for God. I have been nailed to the cross with Christ.
Complete Jewish Bible
For it was through letting the Torah speak for itself that I died to its traditional legalistic misinterpretation, so that I might live in direct relationship with God.
English Standard Version
For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For I through the Lawe am dead to the Lawe, that I might liue vnto God.
George Lamsa Translation
For through the law I am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Hebrew Names Version
For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God.
International Standard Version
For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ.Romans 6:11,14; 8:2; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:10; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 4:2;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For I by the law to the law am dead, that unto Aloha I may live:
Murdock Translation
For I, by the law, have become dead to the law, that I might live to God; and I am crucified with the Messiah.
New King James Version
For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.
New Living Translation
For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God.
New Life Bible
The Law has no power over me. I am dead to the Law. Now I can live for God.
English Revised Version
For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.
New Revised Standard
For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, I, through means of law, unto law, died, that, unto God, I might live: -
Douay-Rheims Bible
For I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I may live to God; with Christ I am nailed to the cross.
King James Version
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Lexham English Bible
For through the law I died to the law, in order that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For I, through the lawe, am dead to the lawe, that I myght lyue vnto God: I am crucified with Christe.
Easy-to-Read Version
It was the law itself that caused me to end my life under the law. I died to the law so that I could live for God. I have been nailed to the cross with Christ.
New American Standard Bible
"For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live for God.
Good News Translation
So far as the Law is concerned, however, I am dead—killed by the Law itself—in order that I might live for God. I have been put to death with Christ on his cross,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For bi the lawe Y am deed to the lawe, and Y am fitchid to the crosse, that Y lyue to God with Crist.

Contextual Overview

11Later, when Peter came to Antioch, I had a face-to-face confrontation with him because he was clearly out of line. Here's the situation. Earlier, before certain persons had come from James, Peter regularly ate with the non-Jews. But when that conservative group came from Jerusalem, he cautiously pulled back and put as much distance as he could manage between himself and his non-Jewish friends. That's how fearful he was of the conservative Jewish clique that's been pushing the old system of circumcision. Unfortunately, the rest of the Jews in the Antioch church joined in that hypocrisy so that even Barnabas was swept along in the charade. 14 But when I saw that they were not maintaining a steady, straight course according to the Message, I spoke up to Peter in front of them all: "If you, a Jew, live like a non-Jew when you're not being observed by the watchdogs from Jerusalem, what right do you have to require non-Jews to conform to Jewish customs just to make a favorable impression on your old Jerusalem cronies?" 15We Jews know that we have no advantage of birth over "non-Jewish sinners." We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know? We tried it—and we had the best system of rules the world has ever seen! Convinced that no human being can please God by self-improvement, we believed in Jesus as the Messiah so that we might be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good. 17Have some of you noticed that we are not yet perfect? (No great surprise, right?) And are you ready to make the accusation that since people like me, who go through Christ in order to get things right with God, aren't perfectly virtuous, Christ must therefore be an accessory to sin? The accusation is frivolous. If I was "trying to be good," I would be rebuilding the same old barn that I tore down. I would be acting as a charlatan. 19What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

through: Galatians 3:10, Galatians 3:24, Romans 3:19, Romans 3:20, Romans 4:15, Romans 5:20, Romans 7:7-11, Romans 7:14, Romans 7:22, Romans 7:23, Romans 8:2, Romans 10:4, Romans 10:5

dead: Romans 6:2, Romans 6:11, Romans 6:14, Romans 7:4, Romans 7:6, Romans 7:9, Colossians 2:20, Colossians 3:3, 1 Peter 2:24

that: Galatians 2:20, Romans 14:7, Romans 14:8, 1 Corinthians 10:31, 2 Corinthians 5:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:10, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:14, 1 Peter 4:1, 1 Peter 4:2, 1 Peter 4:6

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 31:26 - a witness 2 Chronicles 34:19 - the words Psalms 19:8 - enlightening Mark 12:34 - Thou John 5:46 - had Acts 13:39 - from which Romans 3:31 - yea Galatians 2:16 - that Galatians 3:21 - for Colossians 3:1 - risen 2 Timothy 2:11 - For Hebrews 12:20 - For they James 2:9 - transgressors

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
Then God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. God made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil.
Genesis 2:23
The Man said, "Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh! Name her Woman for she was made from Man." Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh. The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For I through the law am dead to the law,.... The apostle further replies to the objection against the doctrine of justification, being a licentious one, from the end of his, and other believers, being dead to the law: he owns he was dead unto it, not in such sense as not to regard it as a rule of walk and conversation, but so as not to seek for life and righteousness by it, nor to fear its accusations, charges, menaces, curses, and condemnation: he was dead to the moral law as in the hands of Moses, but not as in the hands of Christ; and he was dead to it as a covenant of works, though not as a rule of action, and to the ceremonial law, even as to the observance of it, and much more as necessary to justification and salvation: and so he became "through the law"; that is, either through the law or doctrine of Christ; for the Hebrew word תורה, to which νομος answers, signifies properly doctrine, and sometimes evangelical doctrine, the Gospel of Christ; see Isaiah 2:3 and then the sense is, that the apostle by the doctrine of grace was taught not to seek for pardon, righteousness, acceptance, life, and salvation, by the works of the law, but in Christ; by the doctrine of the Gospel, which says, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved; he became dead to the law, which says, do this and live: or through the books of the law, and the prophets, the writings of the Old Testament, which are sometimes called the law, he learnt that righteousness and forgiveness of sins were only to be expected from Christ, and not the works of the law; things, though manifested without the law, yet are witnessed to by the law and prophets: or through the law of his mind, the principle of grace formed in his soul, he became dead to the power and influence of the law of works, he being no longer under the bondage of that, but under grace, as a governing principle in his soul: or the word law, here twice used, may signify one and the same law of works; and the meaning be, either that through Christ's fulfilling the law in his room and stead, assuming an holy human nature the law required, and yielding perfect obedience to it, and submitting to the penalty of it, he became dead to it; that is, through the body of Christ, see Romans 7:4 and through what he did and suffered in his body to fulfil it; or through the use, experience, and knowledge of the law, when being convinced of sin by it, and seeing the spirituality of it, all his hopes of life were struck dead, and he entirely despaired of ever being justified by it. Now the end of his being dead unto it, delivered from it, and being directed to Christ for righteousness, was, says he,

that I might live unto God; not in sin, in the violation of the law, in neglect and defiance of it, or to himself, or to the lusts of men, but to the will of God revealed in his word, and to his honour and glory; whence it most clearly follows, that though believers are dead to the law, and seek to be justified by Christ alone, yet they do not continue, nor do they desire to continue in sin, or indulge themselves in a vicious course of living, but look upon themselves as under the greater obligation to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For I through the law - On this passage the commentators are by no means agreed. It is agreed that in the phrase “am dead to the law,” the Law of Moses is referred to, and that the meaning is, that Paul had become dead to that as a ground or means of justification. He acted as though it were not; or it ceased to have influence over him. A dead man is insensible to all around him. He hears nothing; sees nothing; and nothing affects him. So when we are said to be dead to anything, the meaning is, that it does not have an influence over us. In this sense Paul was dead to the Law of Moses. He ceased to observe it as a ground of justification. It ceased to be the grand aim and purpose of his life, as it had been formerly, to obey it. He had higher purposes than that, and truly lived to God; see the note at Romans 6:2. But on the meaning of the phrase “through the law” (διὰ νόμου dia nomou) there has been a great variety of opinion.

Bloomfield, Rosenmuller, and some others suppose that he means the Christian religion, and that the meaning is, “by one law, or doctrine, I am dead to another;” that is, the Christian doctrine has caused me to cast aside the Mosaic religion. Doddridge, Clarke, Chandler, and most others, however, suppose that he here refers to the Law of Moses, and that the meaning is, that by contemplating the true character of the Law of Moses itself; by considering its nature and design; by understanding the extent of its requisitions, he had become dead to it; that is, he had laid aside all expectations of being justified by it. This seems to me to be the correct interpretation. Paul had formerly expected to be justified by the Law. He had endeavored to obey it. It had been the object of his life to comply with all its requisitions in order to be saved by it; Philippians 3:4-6. But all this while he had not fully understood its nature; and when he was made fully to feel and comprehend its spiritual requirements, then all his hopes of justification by it died, and he became dead to it; see this sentiment more fully explained in the note at Romans 7:9.

That I might live unto God - That I might be truly alive, and might be found engaged in his service. He was dead to the Law, but not to every thing. He had not become literally inactive and insensible to all things, like a dead man, but he had become truly sensible to the commands and appeals of God, and had consecrated himself to his service; see the note at Romans 6:11.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. For I through the law am dead to the law — In consequence of properly considering the nature and requisitions of the law, I am dead to all hope and expectation of help or salvation from the law, and have been obliged to take refuge in the Gospel of Christ. Or, probably the word νομος, LAW, is here put for a system of doctrine; as if he had said, I through the Gospel am dead to the law. The law itself is consigned to death, and another, the Gospel of Christ, is substituted in its stead. The law condemns to death, and I have embraced the Gospel that I might be saved from death, and live unto God.


 
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