Galatians 2 · Verse 18

Galatians 2:18

For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Galatians 2:18, King James Version

Galatians 2:18 in other translations

BSBIf I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker.
WEBFor if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.
ASVFor if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor.
YLTfor if the things I threw down, these again I build up, a transgressor I set myself forth;
DARBYFor if the things I have thrown down, these I build again, I constitute myself a transgressor.
BBEFor if I put up again those things which I gave to destruction, I am seen to be a wrongdoer.
WebsterFor if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

What does Galatians 2:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. Greek, "For if the things which I overthrew (by the faith of Christ), those very things I build up again (namely, legal righteousness, by subjecting myself to the law), I prove myself (literally, 'I commend myself') a transgressor." Instead of commending yourself as you sought to do (Ga 2:12, end), you merely commend yourself as a transgressor. The "I" is intended by Paul for Peter to take to himself, as it is his case, not Paul's own, that is described. A "transgressor" is another word for "sinner" (in Ga 2:17), for "sin is the transgression of the law." You, Peter, by now asserting the law to be obligatory, are proving yourself a "sinner," or "transgressor," in your having set it aside by living as the Gentiles, and with them. Thus you are debarred by transgression from justification by the law, and you debar yourself from justification by Christ, since in your theory He becomes a minister of sin.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 18. For if I build again the things which I destroyed. Paul here uses the first person; but he evidently intends it as a general proposition, and means that if any one does it he becomes a transgressor. The sense is, that if a man, having removed or destroyed that which was evil, again introduces it or establishes it, he does wrong, and is a transgressor of the law of God. The particular application here, as it seems to me, is to the subject of circumcision, and the other rites of the Mosaic law. They had been virtually abolished by the coming of the Redeemer, and by the doctrine of justification by faith. It had been seen that there was no necessity for their observance, and of that Peter and the others had been fully aware. Yet they were lending their influence again to establish them, or to "build" them up again. They complied with them, and they insisted on the necessity of their observance. Their conduct, therefore, was that of building up again that which had once been destroyed--destroyed by the ministry, and toils, and death of the Lord Jesus, and by the fair influence of his gospel. To rebuild that again, to re-establish those customs, was wrong, and now involved the guilt of a transgression of the law of God. Doddridge supposes that this is an address to the Galatians, and that the address to Peter closed at the previous verse. But it is impossible to determine this; and it seems to me more probable that this is all a part of the address to Peter, or rather, perhaps, to the assembly when Peter was present.

Gal 2:15.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed - If I act like a Jew, and enjoin the observance of the law on the Gentiles, which I have repeatedly asserted and proved to be abolished by the death of Christ, then I build up what I destroyed, and thus make myself a transgressor, by not observing the law in that way in which I appear to enjoin the observance of it upon others.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 2:15-19

Paul, having thus shown he was not inferior to any apostle, not to Peter himself, speaks of the great foundation doctrine of the gospel. For what did we believe in Christ? Was it not that we might be justified by the faith of Christ? If so, is it not foolish to go back to the law, and to expect to be justified by the merit of moral works, or sacrifices, or ceremonies? The occasion of this declaration doubtless arose…

Read the full comment on Galatians 2:15-19 →

Galatians 2:18 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἰeiIfG1487
γὰρgarforG1063
ἃhathatG3739
κατέλυσα,katelusaI had torn down,G2647
ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778
πάλινpalinagainG3825
οἰκοδομῶ,oikodomōI build,G3618
παραβάτηνparabatēna transgressorG3848
ἐμαυτὸνemautonmyselfG1473
συνιστάνω·sunistanōI prove;G4921

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Galatians 2:18

  • Galatians 4:9-12

    But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

  • Galatians 2:4-5

    And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

  • Galatians 2:12-16

    For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, …

  • Romans 14:15

    But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

  • Galatians 2:21

    I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:11-12

    And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

  • Galatians 5:11

    And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4,5,12-16,21; 4:9-12; 5:11; Ro 14:15; 1Co 8:11,12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Galatians 2:17

    But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

  • Galatians 2:18

    For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

  • Galatians 2:19

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

Read all of Galatians 2

Galatians 2:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque si las cosas que destruí, las mismas vuelvo á edificar, transgresor me hago.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car si ces mêmes choses que j’ai renversées, je les réédifie, je me constitue transgresseur moi-même.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn wenn ich das, was ich abgebrochen habe, wiederum aufbaue, so stelle ich mich selbst als Übertreter dar.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si enim quæ destruxi, iterum hæc ædifico: prævaricatorem me constituo.