Galatians 2:17

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, [is] therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But if, in seeking to be declared righteous by God through our union with the Messiah, we ourselves are indeed found to be sinners, then is the Messiah an aider and abettor of sin? Heaven forbid!

Berean Standard Bible:

But 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!

American Standard Version:

But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But^{G1161} if^{G1487}, while we seek^{G2212} to be justified^{G1344} by^{G1722} Christ^{G5547}, we^{G2147} ourselves^{G846} also^{G2532} are found^{G2147} sinners^{G268}, is therefore^{G687} Christ^{G5547} the minister^{G1249} of sin^{G266}? God forbid^{{G3361}{G1096}}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Galatians 2:17

Galatians 2:17 is a verse that addresses the early Christian debate over whether Gentiles must follow Jewish law to be justified before God. The Apostle Paul, who wrote the letter to the Galatians, is responding to a challenge by Jewish Christians (Judaizers) who argued that circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic Law were necessary for salvation. In this verse, Paul is countering the idea that seeking justification through Christ implies that Christ condones sin. The rhetorical question "is therefore Christ the minister of sin?" followed by the emphatic negation "God forbid" (μὴ γένοιτο, mē genoito, in Greek, meaning "may it never be!"), underscores the absolute rejection of such an accusation.

Paul's argument is that if one were to seek justification through Christ and then be found to be a sinner, it does not mean that Christ is promoting sin. Instead, Paul is emphasizing that justification is by faith in Christ alone, and not by works of the law. This is a central theme in Pauline theology, which asserts that no one can be justified by the works of the law, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. The historical context of this verse is rooted in the early church's struggle to define the terms of Gentile inclusion in what had been a predominantly Jewish movement. Paul's letter to the Galatians serves as a defense of the gospel of grace against the legalistic teachings that were threatening to undermine it.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G1161
   There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δέ
   Transliteration: dé
   Pronunciation: deh
   Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
   
2. Strong's Number: G1487
   There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: εἰ
   Transliteration: ei
   Pronunciation: i
   Description: a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.:--forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in εἴγε, εἰ δὲ μή(γε), εἰ καί, εἰ μή, εἰ μή τι, εἴ περ, εἴ πως, εἴ τις, ἐκ. See also ἐάν.
   
3. Strong's Number: G2212
   There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ζητέω
   Transliteration: zētéō
   Pronunciation: dzay-teh'-o
   Description: of uncertain affinity; to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by Hebraism) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life):--be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (X will) seek (after, for, means). Compare πυνθάνομαι.
   
4. Strong's Number: G1344
   There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δικαιόω
   Transliteration: dikaióō
   Pronunciation: dik-ah-yo'-o
   Description: from δίκαιος; to render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent:--free, justify(-ier), be righteous.
   
5. Strong's Number: G1722
   There are 2129 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐν
   Transliteration: en
   Pronunciation: en
   Description: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between εἰς and ἐκ); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
   
6. Strong's Number: G5547
   There are 530 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Χριστός
   Transliteration: Christós
   Pronunciation: khris-tos'
   Description: from χρίω; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ.
   
7. Strong's Number: G2147
   There are 168 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: εὑρίσκω
   Transliteration: heurískō
   Pronunciation: hyoo-reh'-o
   Description: a prolonged form of a primary , which (together with another cognate form) is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect; to find (literally or figuratively):--find, get, obtain, perceive, see.
   
8. Strong's Number: G846
   There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αὐτός
   Transliteration: autós
   Pronunciation: ow-tos'
   Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
   
9. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
10. Strong's Number: G268
    There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἁμαρτωλός
    Transliteration: hamartōlós
    Pronunciation: ham-ar-to-los'
    Description: from ἁμαρτάνω; sinful, i.e. a sinner:--sinful, sinner.
    
11. Strong's Number: G687
    There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἆρα
    Transliteration: âra
    Pronunciation: ar'-ah
    Description: a form of ἄρα, denoting an interrogation to which a negative answer is presumed:--therefore.
    
12. Strong's Number: G1249
    There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: διάκονος
    Transliteration: diákonos
    Pronunciation: dee-ak'-on-os
    Description: probably from an obsolete (to run on errands; compare διώκω); an attendant, i.e. (genitive case) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specially, a Christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon or deaconess):--deacon, minister, servant.
    
13. Strong's Number: G266
    There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἁμαρτία
    Transliteration: hamartía
    Pronunciation: ham-ar-tee'-ah
    Description: from ἁμαρτάνω; a sin (properly abstract):--offence, sin(-ful).
    
14. Strong's Number: G3361
    There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: μή
    Transliteration: mḗ
    Pronunciation: may
    Description: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas οὐ expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas οὐ expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also ἐὰν μή, ἵνα μή, οὐ μή, μῆκος, μηκύνω, μήν, μὴ οὐκ.
    
15. Strong's Number: G1096
    There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: γίνομαι
    Transliteration: gínomai
    Pronunciation: ghin'-om-ahee
    Description: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.