OET interlinear GAL 2:19

2:19–20

In these verses, Paul explained that the law had no place in his life because he was fully justified in Christ. Christ fulfilled the law and by his death he destroyed the power of the law. Christ’s death resulted in Paul’s death to the law and his justification in Christ. Paul no longer lived by obeying the law. He lived by faith.Paul had more to say about the topic of “dying to sin and to the law” in Romans 6:1–11 and 7:1–6. It may be helpful to study these passages before doing the translation of Gal 2:19–20.

In these verses, the pronoun “I” refers to Paul. He related his personal experiences to make his point.

2:19a

For: In this verse, Paul further explained his statement in 2:18. This statement was that a person sins when he rebuilds the law. A person does not sin when he abandons the law. Paul has a new relationship with the law.

The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the BSB translates as For. Another way to translate this conjunction is:

For you see that

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

through the law: There are at least two ways to interpret the phrase that the BSB translates as through the law:

1. It refers to Christ paying for the requirements of the law. The law requires death for those who do not keep the entire law. Christ fulfilled those requirements by dying in Paul’s (and our) place to pay the penalty for the failure to keep the law. Paul was crucified with Christ (2:20a), and he died with him. So because of the requirements of the law, Paul considered himself dead (with Christ), and, therefore, dead to the law. For example:

   It was the Law itself that killed me (CEV) (GNT, CEV, NCV)Of this interpretation, Fung says, “This death is accomplished ‘through the law’; this is more specifically expressed in the clause “I have been crucified with Christ,” which refers not in an ethical sense to a subjective experience in Christian consciousness, but to the believer’s objective position in Christ. By virtue of his incorporation into Christ (cf. v. 17) and participation in Christ’s death Paul has undergone a death whereby his relation to the law has been decisively severed and the law has ceased to have any claim on him (cf. Rom. 7:4, 6). But since the vicarious death of Christ for sinners was exacted by the law (cf. Gal. 3:13) and was ‘first an affirmation of [the law’s] verdict,’ Paul’s death to the law through participation in Christ’s death can be said to be ‘through the law.’ This death ‘through the law…to the law’ means not only that the law as a false way of righteousness has been set aside but also that the believer is set free from the dominion of the law (under which there is transgression, Rom. 4:15) for a life of consecration to God (cf. Rom. 7:6)” (p. 123).

2. It refers to Paul realizing that he could not keep the requirements of the law. Paul tried to keep the law, but eventually he realized that he failed. In other words, it was through/in trying to keep the law that he realized that the law could not justify him. For example:

   when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval (NLT96) (NLT96, GW)

Many English versions translate this phrase literally, and it is not possible to tell which interpretation they follow. If possible, you should also translate this phrase in a way that both interpretations can be understood. The end result of both interpretations is the same: Paul died to the law. If you must make a choice, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation fits well with the context of 2:20a, “I have been crucified with Christ.”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

because of the requirements of the law

because Christ died to pay the penalty of the law and because I died with him

the law caused me (to die to it)

I died to the law: This clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Paul compared being released/freed from obeying the law to dying to the law. They are similar in that the law no longer had any control over Paul when he became a believer. Paul did not have to obey the law to be right with God.

Paul used similar metaphors in phrases such as dying to sin, the world, and self. In each case, he meant that these things no longer had control/power over him.

Some other ways to translate this metaphor are:

• Keep the metaphor and also explain the meaning. For example:

  I “died”, and now I am dead to the Law’s demands (JBP)

  I died and now the law no longer has control of me.

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

  it is as if I died to the law

  I became like a dead person regarding the law

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

  I was released/freed from obeying the law

  the law’s power over me came to an end

In your translation, do not imply that Paul died physically or that the law actually killed him.

I: Paul used an emphatic pronoun in this verse. He wrote about his personal experience of justification by faith apart from the law. He used his personal experience to reinforce that justification is by faith and not by works of the law.

Some ways to show this emphasis are:

Me, I

As for me

2:19b

so that I might live to God: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as so that indicates that this clause gives the purpose for dying to the law. Paul died to the law so that he might live for God.

Living to/for God means to live a life under the control of God. Paul meant that because he believed in Christ, he was justified and had a new relationship with God.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

so that I might live for God (NIV)

in order to live to serve God

that I can now live to follow God