GAL 2:16 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) but we know that we’re not saved by following rules,[ref] but only by faith in Yeshua the messiah. So we’ve believed in Yeshua the messiah so that we can be made guiltless by our faith in the messiah, and not by obeying all those rules, because none of those rules can ever make any person guiltless.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT but knowing that no man is justified by works of the law except through faith in Jesus Christ, we also believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law. For by works of the law not any flesh will be justified.

UST But we Jewish believers now know that it is not because some person obeys those things that God commanded in the laws he gave the Jews that God makes a person righteous. God makes a person righteous only if that person trusts in the Messiah Jesus. So even we Jews have trusted the Messiah Jesus. We did that so God would declare us good in his sight, because we trust the Messiah, and not because we try to obey the laws that God gave to Moses. We did that because God has said that he will not declare anyone good in his sight just because they obey those laws.

MSB know that a man is not justified by works of [the] law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.[fn] 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.

BLB nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by works of law, except through faith from Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith from Christ, and not by works of the Law, because by works of the Law not any flesh will be justified.

AICNT knowing [however] that a person is not justified by works of the law but {through faith in Jesus Christ},[fn] we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order that we might be {justified by faith in Christ}[fn] and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no flesh will be justified.

2:16, through faith in Jesus Christ: Or “faithfulness of Jesus Christ” as the phrase is a genitive construction.

2:16, justified by faith in Christ: Or “justified by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ” as the phrase is a genitive construction.

OEB So we placed our faith in Christ Jesus, in order that we might be pronounced righteous, as the result of faith in Christ, and not of obedience to Law; for such obedience will not result in even one soul’s being pronounced righteous.

WEBBE yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

WMBB yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Yeshua the Messiah, even we believed in Messiah Yeshua, that we might be justified by faith in Messiah and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

NET yet 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.

LSV having also known that a man is not declared righteous by works of law, but through faith from Jesus Christ, we also believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be declared righteous by faith from Christ, and not by works of law, because no flesh will be declared righteous by works of law.”

FBV but we know that nobody is made right by doing what the law demands—it is only through trusting in Jesus Christ. We have trusted in Christ Jesus so that we could be made right by placing our confidence in Christ, and not through doing what the law says—because nobody is made right by observing the requirements of the law.”

TCNT know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in [fn]Jesus Christ. So we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by works of the law.

2:16 Jesus Christ ¦ Christ Jesus WH

T4T But we (exc) now know that it is not because some person obeys the laws that God gave to Moses that God erases the record of that person’s sins. God erases the record of a person’s sins only if that person trusts in what Jesus Christ has done. Even we (exc) Jews trusted Christ Jesus. We (exc) did that in order that God would erase the record of our sins because of our trusting Christ, and not because of our obeying the laws that God gave to Moses. God has said that he will never erase the record of people’s sins just because of their obeying those laws.

LEB but knowing that a person is not justified by the works of the law, if not by faith in Jesus Christ,[fn] and we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we may be justified by faith in Christ[fn] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law _⌊no human being will be justified_⌋[fn].

2:16 Or “by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ”

2:16 Or “by the faithfulness of Christ”

2:16 Literally “all flesh will not be justified”

BBE Being conscious that a man does not get righteousness by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ, we had faith in Christ Jesus, so that we might get righteousness by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law will no flesh get righteousness.

Moff but since we know a man is justified simply by faith in Jesus Christ and not by doing what the Law commands, we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus so as to get justified by faith in Christ and not by doing what the Law commands--for by doing what the Law commands no person shall be justified.

Wymth know that it is not through obedience to Law that a man can be declared free from guilt, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. We have therefore believed in Christ Jesus, for the purpose of being declared free from guilt, through faith in Christ and not through obedience to Law. For through obedience to Law no human being shall be declared free from guilt.

ASV yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

DRA But knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ; we also believe in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

YLT having known also that a man is not declared righteous by works of law, if not through the faith of Jesus Christ, also we in Christ Jesus did believe, that we might be declared righteous by the faith of Christ, and not by works of law, wherefore declared righteous by works of law shall be no flesh.'

Drby but knowing that a man is not justified on the principle of works of law [nor] but by the faith of Jesus Christ, we also have believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified on the principle of [the] faith of Christ; and not of works of law; because on the principle of works of law no flesh shall be justified.

RV yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, save through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

SLT Knowing that a man is not justified from the works of the law, but through faith of Jesus Christ, and we believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified from the faith of Christ, and not from the works of the law: therefore from the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Wbstr 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 may 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.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 Knowing that a man is not iustified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Iesus Christ, euen we haue beleeued in Iesus Christ, that we might be iustified by the faith of Christ, and not by the workes of the Law: for by the workes of the Law shall no flesh be iustified.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps Knowe that a man is not iustified by the deedes of the lawe, but by the fayth of Iesus Christe: And we haue beleued on Iesus Christ, that we might be iustified by the fayth of Christe, and not by the deedes of the lawe, because by the deedes of the lawe no fleshe shalbe iustified.
(Know that a man is not justified by the deeds of the law, but by the faith of Yesus/Yeshua Christ: And we have believed on Yesus/Yeshua Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the deeds of the law, because by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified.)

Gnva Knowe that a man is not iustified by the works of the Law, but by ye faith of Iesus Christ, euen we, I say, haue beleeued in Iesus Christ, that we might be iustified by the faith of Christ, and not by the workes of the Lawe, because that by the workes of the Lawe, no flesh shalbe iustified.
(Know that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by ye/you_all faith of Yesus/Yeshua Christ, even we, I say, have believed in Yesus/Yeshua Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law, because that by the works of the Law, no flesh shall be justified. )

Cvdl yet (in so moch as we knowe, that a man is not made righteous by the dedes off the lawe, but by the faith on Iesus Christ) we haue beleued also on Iesus Christ, yt we might be made righteous by the faith of Christ, and not by the dedes of the lawe, because that by the dedes of the lawe no flesh shal be iustified.
(yet (in so much as we know, that a man is not made righteous by the deeds off the law, but by the faith on Yesus/Yeshua Christ) we have believed also on Yesus/Yeshua Christ, it we might be made righteous by the faith of Christ, and not by the deeds of the law, because that by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified.)

TNT knowe that a man is not iustified by the dedes of the lowe: but by the fayth of Iesus Christ. And therfore we have beleved on Iesus Christ that we myght be iustified by the fayth of Christ and uot by the dedes of the lawe: because that by the dedes of the lawe no flesshe shalbe iustified.
(know that a man is not justified by the deeds of the low: but by the faith of Yesus/Yeshua Christ. And therefore we have believed on Yesus/Yeshua Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and uot by the deeds of the law: because that by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified. )

Wycl knowen that a man is not iustified of the werkis of lawe, but bi the feith of Jhesu Crist; and we bileuen in Jhesu Crist, that we ben iustified of the feith of Crist, and not of the werkis of lawe. Wherfor of the werkis of lawe ech fleisch schal not be iustified.
(known that a man is not justified of the works of law, but by the faith of Yhesu Christ; and we believen in Yhesu Christ, that we been justified of the faith of Christ, and not of the works of law. Wherefore of the works of law each flesh shall not be justified.)

Luth doch, weil wir wissen, daß der Mensch durch des Gesetzes Werke nicht gerecht wird, sondern durch den Glauben an JEsum Christum, so glauben wir auch an Christum JEsum, auf daß wir gerecht werden durch den Glauben an Christum und nicht durch des Gesetzes Werke; denn durch des Gesetzes Werke wird kein Fleisch gerecht
(though/but, because we/us realise, that the/of_the person through the law work not just/fair becomes, rather through the faith at/to Yesum Christum, so believe we/us also at/to Christum Yesum, on/in/to that we/us just/fair become through the faith at/to Christum and not through the law work; because/than through the law work becomes no/not flesh just/fair)

ClVg Scientes autem quod non justificatur homo ex operibus legis, nisi per fidem Jesu Christi: et nos in Christo Jesu credimus, ut justificemur ex fide Christi, et non ex operibus legis: propter quod ex operibus legis non justificabitur omnis caro.[fn]
(Scientes however that not/no justificatur human from works law, except through faith Yesu Christi: and us in/into/on to_Christ/Messiah Yesu we_believe, as justificemur from with_faith Christi, and not/no from works law: because that from works law not/no will_be_justified everyone flesh/meat. )

2.16 Nisi per fidem, etc. Non ideo dicit ex fide, quod opera bona frustrentur, cum Deus reddat unicuique secundum opera sua: sed quia bona opera sunt ex gratia, non autem ex operibus gratia: quia fides per dilectionem operans nihil operaretur, nisi ipsa dilectio Dei diffunderetur in nobis per Spiritum sanctum; nec ipsa fides esset in nobis, nisi Deus eam daret.

2.16 Unless through faith, etc. Not/No therefore/for_that_reason he_says from with_faith, that works good(s) frustrentur, when/with God give_back to_each_one after/second works his_own: but because good(s) works are from grace, not/no however from works grace: because faith through love operans nothing operaretur, except herself love/delight of_God diffunderetur in/into/on us through Spirit holy; but_not herself faith was in/into/on us, except God her would_give.

UGNT εἰδότες δὲ ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ὅτι ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, οὐ δικαιωθήσεται πᾶσα σάρξ.
(eidotes de hoti ou dikaioutai anthrōpos ex ergōn nomou, ean maʸ dia pisteōs Yaʸsou Ⱪristou, kai haʸmeis eis Ⱪriston Yaʸsoun episteusamen, hina dikaiōthōmen ek pisteōs Ⱪristou, kai ouk ex ergōn nomou, hoti ex ergōn nomou, ou dikaiōthaʸsetai pasa sarx.)

SBL-GNT εἰδότες ⸀δὲ ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως ⸂Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ⸃, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ⸂ὅτι ἐξ ἔργων νόμου οὐ δικαιωθήσεται⸃ πᾶσα σάρξ.
(eidotes ⸀de hoti ou dikaioutai anthrōpos ex ergōn nomou ean maʸ dia pisteōs ⸂Yaʸsou Ⱪristou⸃, kai haʸmeis eis Ⱪriston Yaʸsoun episteusamen, hina dikaiōthōmen ek pisteōs Ⱪristou kai ouk ex ergōn nomou, ⸂hoti ex ergōn nomou ou dikaiōthaʸsetai⸃ pasa sarx.)

RP-GNT εἰδότες ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως χριστοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου· διότι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐξ ἔργων νόμου πᾶσα σάρξ.
(eidotes hoti ou dikaioutai anthrōpos ex ergōn nomou, ean maʸ dia pisteōs Yaʸsou ⱪristou, kai haʸmeis eis ⱪriston Yaʸsoun episteusamen, hina dikaiōthōmen ek pisteōs ⱪristou, kai ouk ex ergōn nomou; dioti ou dikaiōthaʸsetai ex ergōn nomou pasa sarx.)

TC-GNT [fn]εἰδότες ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως [fn]Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου· [fn]διότι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐξ ἔργων νόμου πᾶσα σάρξ.
(eidotes hoti ou dikaioutai anthrōpos ex ergōn nomou, ean maʸ dia pisteōs Yaʸsou Ⱪristou, kai haʸmeis eis Ⱪriston Yaʸsoun episteusamen, hina dikaiōthōmen ek pisteōs Ⱪristou, kai ouk ex ergōn nomou; dioti ou dikaiōthaʸsetai ex ergōn nomou pasa sarx. )

2:16 ειδοτες ¦ ειδοτες δε ANT CT

2:16 ιησου χριστου ¦ χριστου ιησου WH

2:16 διοτι ου δικαιωθησεται εξ εργων νομου ¦ οτι εξ εργων νομου ου δικαιωθησεται CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:11–21: Paul corrected Peter in Antioch

In this section, Paul told his readers what the true gospel is. It is salvation by faith in Christ alone. Obeying the law is not part of the true gospel. Doing what the law demands does not justify anyone.

Paul told how Peter had deserted the true gospel. He wanted the Galatians to understand how they too were deserting the true gospel. They had started to think that it was necessary to obey the law to be justified. Paul wanted them to read about his rebuke to Peter so that they could recognize how their own situation was similar. They must completely reject justification through the law. He emphasized that justification is by faith in Christ alone.

This section also shows that Paul’s authority as an apostle was at least as great as Peter’s was. This section is also an indirect rebuke of the false teachers who had come to the Galatian churches and required the non-Jews to adopt Jewish traditions to be accepted as true Christians.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Paul rebukes Peter

Paul defended the truth of the gospel

Paul shows how Peter was wrong

Paragraph 2:14–21

In this paragraph, Paul asked Peter and the other Jewish believers to live according to the true gospel. This meant that they had to reject the idea that they were justified by obeying the law. Paul emphasized that justification is by faith in Christ alone. Peter’s actions had implied that it was also necessary to keep the law. That would make Christ’s death meaningless and nullify the grace of God.

In 2:14c, Paul began to speak directly to Peter. There are at least three ways to interpret where Paul’s direct speech to Peter ends:

It ends after verse 21. (NIV, NASB, CEV)
It ends after verse 14. In verses 15–21, what Paul said to Peter is indirect speech. (BSB, ESV, NET, RSV, JBP, GNT, NJB, GW, NCV)
It ends after verse 16. (NLT)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). In 2:15, it is possible that Paul began to also talk to the other people who were there. But he was still also talking to Peter. So Paul’s speech does not end until verse 21.Schreiner on page 150 says, “The first question to be asked is where Paul’s words to Peter, which began in 2:11, end. Since quotation marks are lacking in the original manuscripts, certainty eludes us. Possibly the words directed to Peter conclude after 2:14, 2:15, 2:16, 2:18, or 2:21. I personally argue that it makes most sense to see all of 2:14–21 as addressed to Peter. At least four pieces of evidence support this conclusion. (1) Verse 15 is not clearly set off from 2:11–14. (2) The first person plural pronouns in 2:15–17 most naturally refer to Jewish Christians and would speak to such people in Antioch. (3) Verse 17 may reflect the charges against Peter. (4) A new subject commences on 3:1, where the Galatians are addressed directly.”

If you choose option (2), your translation should still show that Paul is indirectly speaking to Peter in 2:15–21. For example, at the beginning of 2:15, the JBP says:

And then I went on to explain that (JBP)

2:16

This verse contains many clauses. Some of the clauses at the end of the verse repeat information from the beginning. In some languages, it may be more natural to avoid repeating the information. One way to do this is:

^aknow that a man is not justified by works of the law, ^bbut by faith in Jesus Christ. ^cSo we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus. ^dWe did this that we may be justified.

2:16a

know that a man is not justified by works of the law,

However, we^(incl) know that a person is not justified by means of obeying the law,
In spite of that, we know that God does not consider a person as blameless because of his obeying the law of Moses.
However, we know that following the law does not make anyone right with God.

In 2:16, Paul said something that people would not normally expect a Jew to say. The unexpected statement was that he and Peter (who were born Jews and had lived by the law) knew that a person was not justified by obeying the law. Paul introduced this unexpected statement with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “but.” Some other ways to translate this conjunction are:

however

yet (ESV)

nevertheless (NASB)

in spite of that

The BSB has not translated this conjunction, and some other versions, such as the NIV, also do not translate it. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either. Connect 2:16a to 2:15 in a way that is natural in your language.

know that a man is not justified: The Greek word that the BSB translates as justified means that God has made us acceptable to him. It means “acquitted,” “pronounced and treated as righteous,” or “accepted as righteous before God.” A person who is justified is found to be in perfect conformity to God’s law. He no longer has his sins counted against him. God forgives him and considers him to be a righteous person.

Some other ways to translate the word justified are:

accepted as righteous by God

considered straight before God

made right with God

a person’s sins are taken care of

2:16b

but by faith in Jesus Christ.

but only by means of believing in Jesus Christ.
God considers him blameless because of his trust in Jesus Christ.
The only way to be made right with God is to believe/trust in Jesus Christ.

but: There is a contrast between 2:16a and 2:16b. The contrast is between the way that we are not justified (2:16a) and the way that we are justified (2:16b). The BSB indicates this contrast with the conjunction but.

Some other ways to indicate this contrast are:

but only

Instead,

Some words from the previous clause are implied but not repeated here. In some languages, it may be more natural to repeat some of those words from the previous clause. For example:

but that he is justified

Instead, we know that the only way to be justified is

by: The preposition by introduces the way that a person is justified. Justification is by means of faith in Jesus Christ.

Some other ways to translate this preposition are:

through

if/when

because of

faith in Jesus Christ: The term faith, when applied to Jesus Christ, refers to “belief” or “trust” in Jesus Christ.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

believing/trusting in Jesus Christ

belief/trust in Jesus Christ

See faith, Meaning 1 in the Glossary.

General Comment on 2:16a–b

In some languages, it may be natural to change the order of 2:16a and 2:16b and put the way to be justified first. For example:

^16aWe know that a man ^16bis only justified by faith in Jesus Christ. ^16aHe is not justified by observing the law.

2:16c

So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus,

So, we^(incl) too have believed in Christ Jesus,
That is why we^(incl) also, like the non-Jews, have trusted in Christ Jesus,
Therefore, we Jews, we^(incl) also have trusted in Jesus Christ,

So: Verse 2:16c is the main clause in 2:16. It is the result of 2:16a–b. Some versions are like the BSB and add the conjunction So to show how the clauses are connected.

Some other ways to begin this clause are:

That is why

For that reason

we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus: The pronoun we refers to Peter, Paul, and all Christian Jews. The word too implies that these Jews had done like the Gentiles: they also had trusted in Christ Jesus for their salvation.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus (NCV)

we Jews have also trusted in Christ Jesus

See faith, Meaning 1 in the Glossary.

Christ Jesus: Here in Greek, the word Christ comes before Jesus. In 2:16b, the order is “Jesus Christ.” The order of these two words makes no difference in the meaning.

In some languages, it may be possible to follow the Greek order. In other languages, it will be necessary to change the order. For example:

^bbut only by believing in Jesus Christ. ^cSo we also believed in Jesus Christ (GW)

2:16d–e

In 2:16d–e, Paul repeated what he said in 2:16a–b. He said that the way we are justified is by faith. It is not by obeying the law. He repeated it because it is very important.

See the example above under 2:16 for a way to avoid the repetition.

2:16d

that we may be justified by faith in Christ

in order that we may be justified by believing in Christ,
so that God might consider us as blameless because of our trusting in Christ.
because the only way to be made right with God is to trust in Christ.

that we may: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as that introduces the purpose of believing in Christ.

Some other ways to connect this clause are:

so that

in order that

be justified: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as be justified is the same word as in 2:16a. Translate it in the same way.

This verb is a passive verb. Some ways to translate this verb are:

Use a passive clause. For example:
so that we may be made right with God
Use an active clause. For example:
so that God might justify us

by faith in Christ: The phrase that the BSB translates as by faith in Christ means by/through “believing” or “trusting” in Jesus Christ. It is the same phrase that is used in 2:16b.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

by means of trusting/believing in Christ

if/when we believe in Christ

because of our belief/trust in Christ

2:16e

and not by works of the law,

and not by obeying the law,
God does not consider us blameless because of our obeying the law.
We are not made right with God if/when we follow the law.

and not by works of the law: This phrase is the same phrase that is used in 2:16a. Translate it here as you did there.

2:16f

because by works of the law no one will be justified.

because no one will be justified by obeying the law.
We trusted in Christ because we know that God will not consider anyone as blameless because of his obeying the law.
We have believed in Christ because no one will be made right with God if/when he follows the law.

because: The conjunction because introduces the reason why Paul and Peter and others believed in Christ. They believed in Christ because they knew it was impossible to be justified by obeying the law.

Another way to introduce the reason is to begin a new sentence here:

We trusted in Christ because

by works of the law no one will be justified: This was the third time Paul made this point. This was important because the Galatians had added obeying the law to faith. Paul wanted them to understand clearly that it is impossible to be justified by works of the law.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

no one will be justified by means of following the law

we know that God will not justify anyone because of his obeying the law

will be justified: This is the same word as in 2:16a and 2:16d. You should translate it in the same way.

In 2:16a, Paul used the present tense when he said that “man is not justified by works of the law.” Here he used the same verb in the future tense. Some ways to translate this verb in the future tense are:

will be considered as blameless in the sight of God

will be accepted as righteous by God

will be considered straight with God’s law

will be made right with God

2:16a–f

(reordered) However, we know that a person is made right with God by believing in Jesus Christ and not by obeying the law. So we also believed in Christ Jesus in order that God would make us right.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰδότες δέ ὅτι οὒ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου ἐάν μή διά πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καί ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστόν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ καί οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου ὅτι ἐξ ἔργων νόμου οὒ δικαιωθήσεται πάσα σάρξ)

What follows the word but here is in contrast to what would be naturally be expected by a Jewish person in view of [2:15](../02/15.md). Use a natural way in your language for introducing a contrast. Alternate translation: [nevertheless]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἄνθρωπος

˓a˒_person

Although the term man is masculine, Paul is using the word here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: [person] or [human being]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος & δικαιωθῶμεν & δικαιωθήσεται

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [God justifies no man … God might justify us … will God justify]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

(Occurrence -1) ἔργων νόμου

Paul is using the possessive form to describe the types of works to which he is referring. He is specifically referring to works of the Mosaic law. If this is not clear in your language, you could clarify the relationship for your readers. Alternate translation: [doing the works that are commanded in the law of Moses … doing the things commanded in the law of Moses … doing the things commanded in the law of Moses]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

(Occurrence -1) ἔργων νόμου

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of works, you could express the same idea with a verbal form or in some other way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [obeying the law … doing what the law says … obeying the law]

Note 6 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

νόμου & νόμου & νόμου

˱of˲_law & ˱of˲_law & ˱of˲_law

Here, the law is a singular noun that refers to a group of laws that God gave Israel by dictating them to Moses. If your language does not use singular nouns in that way, you could use a different expression. See how you translated the phrase the law in [Romans 2:12](../rom/02/12.md). Alternate translation: [of God’s laws … of God's laws … of God's laws] or [of the laws God gave Moses … of the laws God gave Moses … of the laws God gave Moses]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions

ἐὰν μὴ

If it would appear in your language that Paul was making a statement here and then contradicting it, you could reword this to avoid using an exception clause. Alternate translation: [but rather, only]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

(Occurrence -1) πίστεως

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of faith, you could express the same idea with a such as believing or trusts, or you could express the meaning in some other way that is natural in your language.

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμεῖς & δικαιωθῶμεν

we & ˱we˲_˓may_be˒_justified

When Paul says we it could be: (1) inclusive if Paul is still addressing Peter. If you decide that this verse is a continuation of the quotation that began in [2:14](../02/14.md), then we is inclusive both times that it occurs in this verse, because Paul is still addressing Peter and would be including Peter and the Jewish Christians in Antioch. Your language may require you to mark these forms. (2) exclusive if you decide that Paul’s quotation of his words to Peter ended at the end [2:14](../02/14.md).

Note 10 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

ἵνα

in_order_that

The phrase so that introduces a purpose clause. Paul is introducing the purpose for which he and the other Jewish believers believed in Christ Jesus, which is so that they might be justified by faith in Christ. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause. Alternate translation: [in order that]

Note 11 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὅτι ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, οὐ δικαιωθήσεται πᾶσα σάρξ

that because by ˓the˒_works ˱of˲_law (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰδότες δέ ὅτι οὒ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου ἐάν μή διά πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καί ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστόν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ καί οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου ὅτι ἐξ ἔργων νόμου οὒ δικαιωθήσεται πάσα σάρξ)

Here, the word For re-introduces and re-states the reason why Cephas and the other Jewish believers believed in Christ Jesus. They believed in Jesus Christ because by works of the law no flesh will be justified. The phrase by works of the law no flesh will be justified repeats in slightly different words the earlier phrase in the verse which says no man is justified by works of the law. If it would not be natural in your language to re-introduce the reason after the result, you could re-introduce and re-state the result. Alternate translation: [We believed in Christ Jesus because no flesh will be justified by works of the law]

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

πᾶσα σάρξ

The word flesh refers to human beings. Paul uses a part of the human body to refer to the entire human. The phrase any flesh means any person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or plain language. Alternate translation: [any person]

Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

οὐ & ἄνθρωπος & πᾶσα σάρξ

Both the words man and flesh refer to people in general and include all people, both Jewish people and Gentile people, and refer to people of all ages and ethnicities. The phrases no man and any flesh exclude all people, both Jewish people and Gentile people. Paul is saying the same thing in two different ways to emphasize that no person, Jew or Gentile, can be justified by obeying the law. Since Paul explains this truth in this passage, you do not need to explain its meaning further here, but make sure to use words or phrases when translating the words “man” and “flesh” which indicate that these words refer to all people of all ages and ethnicities.

Parallel GAL 2:16