Galatians 2:18
Verse
Context
Sermons
Zac Poonen
G.W. North
John HamesSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
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.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
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 (Gal 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 Gal 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.
John Gill Bible Commentary
For if I build again the things which I destroyed,.... Which must be understood not of good things, for formerly he destroyed the faith of the Gospel, at least as much as in him lay, and now he built it up, established, and defended it; in doing which he did no evil, or made himself a transgressor, but the reverse; he showed himself a faithful minister of Christ: but of things not lawful, such as the rites and ceremonies of the law of Moses, which were now abrogated, and he had declared to be so all over the Gentile world; and therefore should he go about to establish these things as necessary to salvation, or teach men to join the observance of them with Christ's righteousness for justification, then, says he, I make myself a transgressor: for he could not be otherwise, be the case how it would with respect to the abrogation, or non-abrogation of the law; for if the law was not abolished, then he made himself a transgressor of it; by neglecting it himself, and teaching others to do so; and if it was abolished, then it must be criminal in him to enforce the observance of it as necessary to a sinner's justification before God. Now though the apostle transfers this to himself, and spoke in his own person to decline all invidious reflections and characters; yet he tacitly regards Peter, and his conduct, who had been taught by the vision the abrogation of the ceremonial law, and acted accordingly by conversing and eating with the Gentiles, and had declared that law to be an insupportable yoke of bondage, which the Gentiles were not obliged to come under; and yet now, by his practice and example, built up and established those very things he had before destroyed, and therefore could not exculpate himself, from being a transgressor: or these things may regard sins and immoralities in life and conversation; and the apostle's sense be, that should he, or any other, take encouragement to sin from the doctrine of free justification by the righteousness of Christ, as if he was the author and minister of sin, and allowed persons in it; this would be to establish sin, which the righteousness of Christ justifies from, and engage in a living in sin, to which, by Christ's righteousness, they are dead unto; than which, nothing can be, a greater contradiction, and which must unavoidably make them not only transgressors of the law, by sinning against it, but apostates, as the word here used signifies, from the Gospel; such must act quite contrary to the nature, use, and design of the Gospel in general, and this doctrine in particular, which teaches men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that being dead to sin, they should live unto righteousness.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:18 I am a sinner (or lawbreaker): Turning away from faith and back to the law brings a person under the jurisdiction of the law, where all stand under God’s judgment (Rom 3:10-12, 23-24; see Heb 6:1-8), and is itself a serious sin against Christ (Gal 5:2-4; cp. Heb 6:4-6). See also study note on 2:19. • if I rebuild: By insisting on keeping Jewish laws concerning food and circumcision (Gal 2:11-13). • Christ tore down the system of law through his death (Eph 2:14-16).
Galatians 2:18
Paul Confronts Cephas
17But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not!18If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Free From Sin by the Life of Christ
By Zac Poonen6461:13:43MAT 11:28ROM 6:14ROM 7:4ROM 8:13ROM 8:28ROM 8:31ROM 8:38GAL 2:18EPH 2:6HEB 13:9
This sermon delves into the journey of believers from being bound by the law to being married to Christ, emphasizing the importance of dying to the law and living in partnership with Jesus. It highlights the transformation from struggling under the law's strictness to experiencing grace and freedom in Christ, leading to a life of victory over sin through the power of the Holy Spirit. The speaker encourages a deep dive into Romans 1 to 8, urging listeners to seek understanding through meditation, study, and prayer for a truly godly life.
Are You Running for Jesus
By G.W. North5861:16:39JesusMAT 6:33ROM 6:6ROM 12:2GAL 2:16GAL 2:18PHP 3:7In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for believers to take responsibility for their spiritual growth and to actively pursue a life of destruction of worldly desires and ambitions. He encourages the audience to run the race for Jesus and not be hindered by criticism or fear. The preacher shares the example of Paul, who immediately started running for Jesus after his conversion and continued to witness for Christ despite facing challenges. He challenges the audience to examine their own lives and ask if they have experienced a true and complete destruction of their old ways, emphasizing the power of the cross in bringing about this transformation.
Bringing Christianity Into Disrepute
By John Hames1PRO 13:15MAT 11:30ROM 14:16GAL 2:181TI 2:91PE 3:3John Hames preaches on the importance of not allowing our good deeds to be spoken of as evil, emphasizing that even Jesus Christ faced criticism despite His purity. He highlights common ways Christians bring disrepute to Christianity, such as portraying the Christian life as burdensome, looking back at past sins, and engaging in behaviors that contradict their testimonies. Hames also addresses the negative impact of constantly borrowing money, soliciting finances from unbelievers, and adorning oneself slovenly, urging believers to live in a way that honors God.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
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.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
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 (Gal 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 Gal 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.
John Gill Bible Commentary
For if I build again the things which I destroyed,.... Which must be understood not of good things, for formerly he destroyed the faith of the Gospel, at least as much as in him lay, and now he built it up, established, and defended it; in doing which he did no evil, or made himself a transgressor, but the reverse; he showed himself a faithful minister of Christ: but of things not lawful, such as the rites and ceremonies of the law of Moses, which were now abrogated, and he had declared to be so all over the Gentile world; and therefore should he go about to establish these things as necessary to salvation, or teach men to join the observance of them with Christ's righteousness for justification, then, says he, I make myself a transgressor: for he could not be otherwise, be the case how it would with respect to the abrogation, or non-abrogation of the law; for if the law was not abolished, then he made himself a transgressor of it; by neglecting it himself, and teaching others to do so; and if it was abolished, then it must be criminal in him to enforce the observance of it as necessary to a sinner's justification before God. Now though the apostle transfers this to himself, and spoke in his own person to decline all invidious reflections and characters; yet he tacitly regards Peter, and his conduct, who had been taught by the vision the abrogation of the ceremonial law, and acted accordingly by conversing and eating with the Gentiles, and had declared that law to be an insupportable yoke of bondage, which the Gentiles were not obliged to come under; and yet now, by his practice and example, built up and established those very things he had before destroyed, and therefore could not exculpate himself, from being a transgressor: or these things may regard sins and immoralities in life and conversation; and the apostle's sense be, that should he, or any other, take encouragement to sin from the doctrine of free justification by the righteousness of Christ, as if he was the author and minister of sin, and allowed persons in it; this would be to establish sin, which the righteousness of Christ justifies from, and engage in a living in sin, to which, by Christ's righteousness, they are dead unto; than which, nothing can be, a greater contradiction, and which must unavoidably make them not only transgressors of the law, by sinning against it, but apostates, as the word here used signifies, from the Gospel; such must act quite contrary to the nature, use, and design of the Gospel in general, and this doctrine in particular, which teaches men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that being dead to sin, they should live unto righteousness.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:18 I am a sinner (or lawbreaker): Turning away from faith and back to the law brings a person under the jurisdiction of the law, where all stand under God’s judgment (Rom 3:10-12, 23-24; see Heb 6:1-8), and is itself a serious sin against Christ (Gal 5:2-4; cp. Heb 6:4-6). See also study note on 2:19. • if I rebuild: By insisting on keeping Jewish laws concerning food and circumcision (Gal 2:11-13). • Christ tore down the system of law through his death (Eph 2:14-16).