The Context of Galatians 2:20

Many believers are familiar with Galatians 2:19-20 (NET Bible).

"For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Though many are familiar with these verses, many have never been taught the context.

Starting in Galatians 2:11, Paul begins writing about a time when he publicly opposed Peter to his face because Peter abandoned the grace of Jesus for righteousness and began pursuing righteousness through the law of Moses (Galatians 2:11-21).

The grace of Jesus was everything God did for us in Jesus to give us righteousness.

This righteousness is received by faith.

Paul writes that Peter abandoned grace for righteousness when men sent from James pressured Peter to leave the grace of Jesus and return to the law of Moses for righteousness.

Consequently, Peter began to depend on his own faithfulness to obey the law rather on Jesus who faithfully went to the cross.

Peter then led others away from grace, including Barnabas.

Paul tells Peter that he, Paul, no longer pursues righteousness through the law because he had been crucified with Christ and Christ now lived in him.

Paul now lived by the faithfulness of Jesus in going to the cross for him.

Though Paul once pursued righteousness through the law, he no longer did so.

Paul was now assured of the love of Jesus who gave his life for him so he could be righteous through faith in Jesus.

Paul ends his public confrontation of Peter in Galatians 2:21, which reads,

"I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"

When the men from James pressured Peter to set aside grace (the death of Jesus for righteousness), Peter was afraid of them so he yielded to their pressure.

However, Paul did not set aside grace, though he was constantly pressured by others to do so.

Paul was not afraid.

Paul continued to trust in the faithfulness of Jesus who loved him and gave his life.

If this blog was helpful, you may enjoy Brad’s commentary on Galatians, Return to Grace.

Also, check out Brad’s Books.