Galatians 2:16 “know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in…”

Galatians 2:16

know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

World English Bible

yet 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.

American Standard Version

yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Geneva Bible 1599

Knowe that a man is not iustified by the works of the Law, but by ye faith of Iesus Christ, euen we, I say, haue beleeued in Iesus Christ, that we might be iustified by the faith of Christ, and not by the workes of the Lawe, because that by the workes of the Lawe, no flesh shalbe iustified.

Darby Translation

but knowing that a man is not justified on the principle of works of law [nor] but by the faith of Jesus Christ, we also have believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified on the principle of [the] faith of Christ; and not of works of law; because on the principle of works of law no flesh shall be justified.

Young's Literal Translation

having known also that a man is not declared righteous by works of law, if not through the faith of Jesus Christ, also we in Christ Jesus did believe, that we might be declared righteous by the faith of Christ, and not by works of law, wherefore declared righteous by works of law shall be no flesh.'

Bible in Basic English

Being conscious that a man does not get righteousness by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ, we had faith in Christ Jesus, so that we might get righteousness by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law will no flesh get righteousness.

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Cross references

“that”

Philippians 3:9 Romans 4:2 Luke 10:25–29 Galatians 5:4 Job 25:4 Romans 4:13–15

Philippians 3:9 · BSB

and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

Romans 4:2 · BSB

If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

Luke 10:25–29 · BSB

One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Galatians 5:4 · BSB

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Job 25:4 · BSB

How then can a man be just before God? How can one born of woman be pure?

Romans 4:13–15 · BSB

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

“but”

Galatians 3:22–24 Romans 8:3 Romans 1:17 Romans 3:30 Romans 8:30–34 1 Corinthians 6:11

Galatians 3:22–24 · BSB

But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

Romans 8:3 · BSB

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,

Romans 1:17 · BSB

For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 3:30 · BSB

since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

Romans 8:30–34 · BSB

And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

1 Corinthians 6:11 · BSB

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

“we have”

1 Peter 1:18–21 1 Peter 3:18 1 Peter 2:24 1 John 1:7 2 Peter 1:1 Revelation 7:9

1 Peter 1:18–21 · BSB

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,

1 Peter 3:18 · BSB

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

1 Peter 2:24 · BSB

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

1 John 1:7 · BSB

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

2 Peter 1:1 · BSB

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Revelation 7:9 · BSB

After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in th…

“for”

Psalm 143:2 Galatians 3:11

Psalm 143:2 · BSB

Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.

Galatians 3:11 · BSB

Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”

Also

Romans 9:30

Romans 9:30 · BSB

What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

15We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners”

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!

Read Galatians 2