GAL 2:19 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) [ref]It was the law that showed me that I needed die to the idea of following the law, so that I could live to serve God instead. I was executed on a post along with the messiah,

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 For I, through the law, died to the law so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ,

UST I realized that God would not regard me as righteous because I tried to obey the laws that he gave to Moses. So I have decided not to respond to what those laws demand, just like a dead person does not respond to anything. I decided to do this so that I may now live to serve God. It is as though I was with the Messiah when he died on the cross.

AICNT For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ;

OEB I, indeed, through Law became dead to Law, in order to live for God.

WEBBE For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(19-21)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.

NET For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God.

LSV for I died through law that I may live to God;

FBV For through the law I died to the law in order that I could live for God.

TCNT For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.

T4T When I realized that I could not earn God’s favor by obeying the laws that he gave to Moses, I decided not to respond to what those laws demanded [MET], just like a dead person does not respond to anything. Now I live to honor/serve God.

LEB For through the law I died to the law, in order that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ,

BBE For I, through the law, have become dead to the law, so that I might be living to God.

Moff For through the Law I died to the Law that I might live for God;

Wymth for it is by the Law that I have died to the Law, in order that I may live to God.

ASV For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.

DRA For I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I may live to God: with Christ I am nailed to the cross.

YLT for I through law, did die, that to God I may live;

Drby For I, through law, have died to law, that I may live to [fn]God.

2.19 Elohim

RV For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.

SLT For I through the law died to the law, that. I might live to God.

Wbstr For I through the law am dead to the law, that I may live to God.

KJB-1769 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

KJB-1611 For I through y^e Law, am dead to the Law, that I might liue vnto God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps For I, through the lawe, am dead to the lawe, that I myght lyue vnto God: I am crucified with Christe.
(For I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I might live unto God: I am crucified with Christ.)

Gnva For I through the Lawe am dead to the Lawe, that I might liue vnto God.
(For I through the Law am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God. )

Cvdl But I thorow the lawe am deed vnto the lawe, that I might lyue vnto God.
(But I through the law am deed unto the law, that I might live unto God.)

TNT But I thorow the lawe amen deed to the lawe: that I myght live vnto God.
(But I through the law amen deed to the law: that I might live unto God. )

Wycl For bi the lawe Y am deed to the lawe, and Y am fitchid to the crosse, that Y lyue to God with Crist.
(For by the law I am deed to the law, and I am fetched to the cross, that I live to God with Christ.)

Luth Ich bin aber durchs Gesetz dem Gesetz gestorben auf daß ich GOtt lebe; ich bin mit Christo gekreuziget.
(I am but through law to_him law died on/in/to that I God live; I am with Christo crucified.)

ClVg Ego enim per legem, legi mortuus sum, ut Deo vivam: Christo confixus sum cruci.[fn]
(I because through the_law, I_read dead I_am, as to_God vivam: to_Christ/Messiah confixus I_am cross. )

2.19 Ego enim per legem. Spiritualiter intellectam. Mortuus sum. Ne carnaliter vivam. Ut Deo vivam. Non mihi, sed quod Deo jam possum? quia cum Christo sum. Confixus. Id est, crux Christi exstinxit in me ardorem peccati ut jam ultra ad id non extendar, quasi: clavis habens manus affixas.

2.19 I because through the_law. By_Spiritaliter understoodm. Dead I_am. Don't carnally/sensually vivam. As to_God vivam. Not/No to_me, but that to_God already I_can? because when/with to_Christ/Messiah I_am. Confixus. That it_is, stake/cross of_Christ extinguished in/into/on me ardour/enthusiasm of_sin as already beyond/besides to that not/no extendar, as_if: bar/lock(n) having hands affixas.

UGNT ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον, ἵνα Θεῷ ζήσω. Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι;
(egō gar dia nomou nomōi apethanon, hina Theōi zaʸsō. Ⱪristōi sunestaurōmai;)

SBL-GNT ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον ἵνα θεῷ ζήσω· Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι·
(egō gar dia nomou nomōi apethanon hina theōi zaʸsō; Ⱪristōi sunestaurōmai;)

RP-GNT Ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον, ἵνα θεῷ ζήσω.
(Egō gar dia nomou nomōi apethanon, hina theōi zaʸsō.)

TC-GNT Ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον, ἵνα Θεῷ ζήσω.
(Egō gar dia nomou nomōi apethanon, hina Theōi zaʸsō. )

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)

2:19–20

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 through the law I died to the law

Because of the requirements of the law, I died to the law,
I am like a dead person, and the law no longer has power over me. The law itself required that I die.
The law’s power over me has ended because Christ died to pay the penalty of the law and because I died with him.

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:

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).
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

General Comment on 2:19a

In some languages, it might be more natural to change the order of the two clauses in 2:19a (and begin a new sentence at 2:19b). For example:

I died to the law because of the requirements of the law.

I am like a dead person, and the law no longer has power over me. The law itself required that I die.

I am no longer under the law. It was the law itself that did this to me.

2:19b

so that I might live to God.

in order that I might live for God.
Now I live for God and do what he wants.
As a result, I live to serve God.

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

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Γάρ διά νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον ἵνα Θεῷ ζήσω Χριστῷ Συνεσταύρωμαι)

Here, the word For is introducing the reason that Paul said “May it never be” in [2:17](../02/17.md) and is also introducing information which gives support for what he said in [2:18](../02/18.md). Use a natural form for introducing a reason for something had been said.

διὰ νόμου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Γάρ διά νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον ἵνα Θεῷ ζήσω Χριστῷ Συνεσταύρωμαι)

Alternate translation: [by means of the law]

Note 2 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

διὰ νόμου νόμῳ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Γάρ διά νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον ἵνα Θεῷ ζήσω Χριστῷ Συνεσταύρωμαι)

See how you translated the phrase the law in [2:16](../02/16.md). Alternate translation: [through God’s laws … to those laws] or [through the laws God gave Moses … to those laws]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

νόμῳ ἀπέθανον

˱to˲_˓the˒_law died_off

Here, the phrase, died to the law could: (1) be a metaphor in which died to the law refers to Paul’s new relationship to the law of Moses which he experienced when he realized that trying to obey the law of Moses was not a valid way of earning God’s approval; and as a result he chose to die to the law, by which he means he was released from the power and control of the law of Moses and no longer subjected himself to it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: [died to being under the control of the law and am no longer subject to it] or [stopped being subject to the authority of the law of Moses] (2) be a metaphor in which the phrase died to the law means “considered as dead to the requirements of the law of Moses through union with Christ.” The phrase died to the law would then refer to believers’ vicarious death with Christ through their believing in him and their consequent union with him which they have as a result of their faith in him. (See [Rom 7:4](../07/04.md) and [Gal 4:4-5](../04/04.md)) Alternate translation: [died to the requirements of the law through my union with Christ]

Note 4 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

νόμου νόμῳ

˓the˒_law ˱to˲_˓the˒_law

See how you translated the phrase the law in [2:16](../02/016.md).

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

ἵνα

in_order_that

The phrase so that introduces a purpose clause. Paul is introducing the purpose or reason for which he died to the law. The purpose was so that he might live to God. Use a natural way in your language for introducing a purpose clause. Alternate translation: [in order that]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

Θεῷ ζήσω

˱to˲_God ˱I˲_˓may˒_live

The phrase live to God means “live for God.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [I might live for God] or [I might live to honor God] or [I might live to please God]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι

˱with˲_Christ (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Γάρ διά νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον ἵνα Θεῷ ζήσω Χριστῷ Συνεσταύρωμαι)

The phrase I have been crucified with Christ is a metaphor. Paul is not saying that he literally died with Christ. Paul is using this metaphor to express the reality that, as a result of his faith in Christ and the subsequent union with Christ that his faith has brought about, God now views Paul as if he had died with Christ on the cross. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile.

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι

˱with˲_Christ (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Γάρ διά νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον ἵνα Θεῷ ζήσω Χριστῷ Συνεσταύρωμαι)

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. If you must state who did the action, Paul implies that the law was the reason Christ had to be put to death. Roman soldiers put Jesus to death, but in context Paul is explaining that it was God’s righteous requirements given in the law that made it necessary for Christ to die so that people could be forgiven.

Parallel GAL 2:19

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

Paragraph 2:14–21

2:19–20

2:19a

General Comment on 2:19a

2:19b