Bible Strands
Galatians 2:16
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Galatian churches, stating the shared conviction of himself and the apostles in response to those who insist Gentile believers must be justified through Torah observance.
The words — δικαιοῦται (dikaioutai), "is justified," is a present passive: a continuous state, not a one-time verdict. ἐξ (ex), "from/out of," marks the source — the verse's claim is that works are not the origin of justification.
The thread — Paul repeats the same formula in Romans 3:19, where the law silences every mouth, and echoes it in Philippians 3:9, where he discards his own righteousness from the law.
Why it lands — The verse removes the reader's own performance as the ground of standing before God; if justification comes from faith in Christ, the operative question shifts from "how much have I done?" to "have I trusted Christ?"
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Philippians 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
- Psalms 143:2 Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
- Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- Romans 9:30 What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
- 1 Peter 1:18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
- Acts 13:38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
- 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
- Romans 4:2 If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.
- Galatians 3:10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
- Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.