Galatians 2 · Verse 19

Galatians 2:19

For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Galatians 2:19, King James Version

Galatians 2:19 in other translations

BSBFor through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
WEBFor I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God.
ASVFor I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.
YLTfor I through law, did die, that to God I may live;
DARBYFor I, through law, have died to law, that I may live to God.
BBEFor I, through the law, have become dead to the law, so that I might be living to God.
WebsterFor I through the law am dead to the law, that I may live to God.

What does Galatians 2:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. Here Paul seems to pass from his exact words to Peter, to the general purport of his argument on the question. However, his direct address to the Galatians seems not to be resumed till Ga 3:1, "O foolish Galatians," &c. For--But I am not a "transgressor" by forsaking the law. "For," &c. Proving his indignant denial of the consequence that "Christ is the minister of sin" (Ga 2:17), and of the premises from which it would follow. Christ, so far from being the minister of sin and death, is the establisher of righteousness and life. I am entirely in Him [Bengel]. I--here emphatical. Paul himself, not Peter, as in the "I" (Ga 2:18). through the law--which was my "schoolmaster to bring me to Christ" (Ga 3:24); both by its terrors (Ga 3:13; Ro 3:20) driving me to Christ, as the refuge from God's wrath against sin, and, when spiritually understood, teaching that itself is not permanent, but must give place to Christ, whom it prefigures as its scope and end (Ro 10:4); and drawing me to Him by its promises (in the prophecies which form part of the Old Testament law) of a better righteousness, and of God's law written in the heart (De 18:15-19; Jr 31:33; Ac 10:43). am dead to the law--literally, "I died to the law," and so am dead to it, that is, am passed from under its power, in respect to non-justification or condemnation (Col 2:20; Ro 6:14; 7:4, 6); just as a woman, once married and bound to a husband, ceases to be so bound to him when death interposes, and may be lawfully married to another husband. So by believing union to Christ in His death, we, being considered dead with Him, are severed from the law's past power over us (compare Ga 6:14; 1Co 7:39; Ro 6:6-11; 1Pe 2:24). live unto God--(Ro 6:11; 2Co 5:15; 1Pe 4:1, 2).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. For I through the law. On this passage the commentators are by no means agreed. It is agreed that in the phrase "am dead to the law," the law of Moses is referred to, and that the meaning is, that Paul had become dead to that as a ground or means of justification, lie acted as though it were not; or it ceased to have influence over him. A dead man is insensible to all around him. He hears nothing; sees nothing; and nothing affects him. So when we are said to be dead to anything, the meaning is, that it does not have an influence over us. In this sense Paul was dead to the law of Moses. He ceased to observe it as a ground of justification. It ceased, to be the grand aim and purpose of his life, as it had been formerly, to obey it. He had higher purposes than that, and truly lived to God. Rom 6:2. But on the meaning of the phrase "through the law," διανομου there has been a great variety of opinion. Bloomfield, Rosenmuller, and some others, suppose that he means the Christian religion; and that the meaning is, "By one law, or doctrine, I am dead to another;" that is, the Christian doctrine has caused me to cast aside the Mosaic religion. Doddridge, Clarke, Chandler, and most others, however, suppose that he here refers to the law of Moses, and that the meaning is, that by contemplating the true character of the law of Moses itself; by considering its nature and design; by understanding the extent of its requisitions, he had become dead to it; that is, he had laid aside all expectations of being justified by it. This seems to me to be the correct interpretation. Paul had formerly expected to be justified by the law. He had endeavoured to obey it. It had been the object of his life to comply with all its requisitions, in order to be saved by it, Php 3:4-6. But all this while he had not fully understood its nature; and when he was made fully to feel and comprehend its spiritual requirements, then all his hopes of justification by it died, and he became dead to it. See this sentiment more fully explained Rom 7:9.

That I might live unto God. That I might be truly alive, and might be found engaged in his service. He was dead to the law, but not to everything. He had not become literally inactive and insensible to all things, like a dead man, but he had become truly sensible to the commands and appeals of God, and had consecrated himself to his service. Rom 6:11.

(b) "For I through" Rom 7:4,10, 8:2 (c) "live unto God" Rom 6:11,14, 2Cor 5:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 For I through the law am dead to the law - In consequence of properly considering the nature and requisitions of the law, I am dead to all hope and expectation of help or salvation from the law, and have been obliged to take refuge in the Gospel of Christ. Or, probably the word νομος, Law, is here put for a system of doctrine; as if he had said, I through the Gospel am dead to the law. The law itself is consigned to death, and another, the Gospel of Christ, is substituted in its stead. The law condemns to death, and I have embraced the Gospel that I might be saved from death, and live unto God.

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 2:19 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.

ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473
γὰρgarforG1063
διὰdiathroughG1223
νόμουnomou[the] LawG3551
νόμῳnomōto [the] LawG3551
ἀπέθανον,apethanondied,G599
ἵναinathatG2443
θεῷtheōto GodG2316
ζήσω.zēsōI may live.G2198

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

Cross references for Galatians 2:19

  • Romans 7:4

    Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

  • Romans 6:2

    God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:10

    Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

  • Romans 6:11

    Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:15

    And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

  • Romans 3:19-20

    Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

  • Romans 8:2

    For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

  • Romans 14:7-8

    For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

  • Titus 2:14

    Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

  • Romans 6:14

    For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

  • 1 Peter 2:24

    Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

  • Romans 10:4-5

    For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
through.
3:10,24; Ro 3:19,20; 4:15; 5:20; 7:7-11,14,22,23; 8:2; 10:4,5
dead.
Ro 6:2,11,14; 7:4,6,9; Col 2:20; 3:3; 1Pe 2:24
that.
20; Ro 14:7,8; 1Co 10:31; 2Co 5:15; 1Th 5:10; Tit 2:14; Heb 9:14
1Pe 4:1,2,6

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Galatians 2:20

    I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Read all of Galatians 2

Galatians 2:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque yo por la ley soy muerto á la ley, para vivir á Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car moi, par la loi, je suis mort à la loi, afin que je vive à Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn ich bin durchs Gesetz dem Gesetz gestorben, auf daß ich Gott lebe;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ego enim per legem, legi mortuus sum, ut Deo vivam: Christo confixus sum cruci.