Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Galatians 2:21

A summary of Galatians 2:15-20, and indeed of the whole Epistle. I do not set at nought God’s grace, as you think of doing. There is no righteousness by means of the Law. If there were, Christ died and gained nothing thereby.

οὐκ�. In St Paul’s writings, Galatians 3:15; 1 Corinthians 1:19 (a quotation); 1 Thessalonians 4:8 (where see note); 1 Timothy 5:12[87]. It is strictly “to set out of position,” i.e. “set aside,” “set at nought.” Cf. Luke 10:16; 1 Samuel 2:17; Isaiah 1:2. “It describes not only the violation of an ordinance or authority in details, but the denial of the validity of the ordinance or the authority altogether” (Westcott on Hebrews 10:28); cf. 1Ma 15:27. In the papyri ἀθέτησις (often joined with ἀκύρωσις) is used in a technical juristic sense (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 228).

[87] Is affixed to a word it means that all the passages are mentioned where that word occurs in the New Testament.

τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ. Galatians 1:15.

εἰ γὰρ διὰ νόμον δικαιοσύνη. See Galatians 2:16 notes.

ἄρα (Galatians 5:11) Χριστὸς δωρεὰν�. Without receiving any payment for His pains and sacrifice, in your salvation taking place through Him: Genesis 29:15; 2 Corinthians 11:7; i.e. without any due cause, John 15:25.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Galatians 2:21

Old Testament

New Testament