I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”
Parallel translations
- KJV I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
- BSB I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.
- ESV I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
- NKJV I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
- NASB I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
- NLT I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul refuses to nullify God's grace, for if righteousness came through the law, Christ died needlessly. The cross proves law-keeping cannot save.
Overview
Paul concludes his argument with a stark either/or: grace or law, but not both as the basis of righteousness. If the law could justify, Christ's death would be pointless. Upholding justification by faith honors the cross, while seeking righteousness by law empties it of meaning.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Rom 11:6And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
- Gal 3:21Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.
- Heb 7:11Now if there were perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
- 1 Cor 15:14If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain.
- Gal 2:16yet 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.
- Gal 5:2–4Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
- Isa 49:4But I said, “I have labored in vain. I have spent my strength in vain for nothing; yet surely the justice due to me is with Yahweh, and my reward with my God.”
- Rom 10:3For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
- 1 Cor 15:2by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain.
- Mark 7:9He said to them, “Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
- Gal 2:18For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.
- Rom 8:31What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- 1 Cor 15:17If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.
- Ps 33:10Yahweh brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.
- Jer 8:8“‘How do you say, “We are wise, and Yahweh’s law is with us?” But, behold, the false pen of the scribes has worked falsely.
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Christ at the center
Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law's curse, that we might receive the Spirit and be sons — justified by faith in him, not by works.
How Galatians 2:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.