GAL 2:16 Parallel Verse View

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

OET (OET-RV) but we know that we’re not saved by following rules 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 all of those rules can never 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 OET-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.

BSB know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. 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 No Moff GAL book available

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.

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 deades 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 deades of the law, because by the deades 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 Lawe, because that by the works of the Lawe, 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 knowe, that a man is not made righteous by the dedes 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 dedes of the law, because that by the dedes 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.
(knowe that a man is not justified by the dedes of the lowe: 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 dedes of the lawe: because that by the dedes 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. Wherfor 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
(doch, because we/us wissen, that the/of_the person through the lawes Werke not gerecht wird, rather through the faith at YEsum Christum, so believe we/us also at Christum YEsum, on that we/us gerecht become through the faith at Christum and not through the lawes Werke; because through the lawes Werke becomes kein flesh gerecht)

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 operibus legis, nisi through faith Yesu of_Christ: and we in Christo Yesu credimus, as justificemur from fide of_Christ, and not/no from operibus legis: propter that from operibus legis not/no justificabitur everyone caro. )

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 Nisi through fidem, etc. Non ideo dicit from fide, that opera good frustrentur, when/with God reddat unicuique after/second opera sua: but because good opera are from gratia, not/no however from operibus gratia: because fides through dilectionem operans nihil operaretur, nisi herself dilectio of_God diffunderetur in us through Spiritum holy; but_not herself fides was in nobis, nisi God her daret.

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.)

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).

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

but

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. 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

not /is_being/_justified /a/_person & ˱we˲_/may_be/_justified & /will_be_being/_justified

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

(Some words not found in SR-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)

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. 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 not

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, 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.

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 not /will_be_being/_justified any flesh

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

any flesh

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

not & /a/_person & any flesh

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