GALATIANS 2:17-19 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.
NSB* Paul strongly rejects the erroneous conclusion that being justified by faith in Christ actually made Jews sinners, painting Christ as the promoter of sin. Those who attempt to be justified through "the works of the law" are cursed (3:10). If anyone attempts to reassert the "works of the law" as having any part in justification before God, the law itself convicts that person or being a transgressor (see 3:19-25). The law itself is not sinful; its purpose is to convince individuals of their personal spiritual deadness in sin outside of faith in Christ (see Romans 7:7-13).
My Notes - Lord willing I will get to verses 3:10 and 3:19-25 later in this study, so I won't post those verses now, but here is Romans 7:7-13 which is outside of this current study.
Notes Reference - Romans 7:7-13 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. 13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.
Justified; I have a lot of study on this here under "Justified".
Sinners; lit., one who misses the mark" (a meaning not to be pressed), is an adjective, most frequently used as a noun; it is the most usual term to describe the fallen condition of men; it is applicable to all men. The Greek word is ἁμαρτωλός hamartolos. Vines' (def Prime), Strong's G268.
My Notes - For the liberally indoctrinated, "men" in the Vine's definition above means "everyone", not just men.
Moving to Verse 18.
Galatians 2:18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Build; to be a house-builder, i.e. construct or (figuratively) confirm. Thayer expands - Thayer: 1) to build a house, erect a building 1a) to build (up from the foundation) 1b) to restore by building, to rebuild, repair 2) metaph. 2a) to found, establish 2b) to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness 2c) to grow in wisdom and piety. The Greek word here is οἰκοδομέω oikodomeō. Strong's G3618.
Destroyed; kata, "down," intensive, and No. 4, "to destroy utterly, to overthrow completely," is rendered "destroy," is used of the Law as a means of justification; The Greek word here is καταλύω kataluo. Vine's (def A-5), Strong's G2647.
Transgressor; lit. and primarily, one who stands beside," then, "one who oversteps the prescribed limit, a transgressor" (akin to parabaino, "to transgress," See above); so Romans 2:25, RV (AV, "a breaker"); Romans 2:27, RV, "a transgressor" (AV, "dost transgress"); Galatians 2:18; James 2:9, James 2:11. The Greek word used here is παραβάτης parabates. Strong's simply defines is at "a violator". Vine's (def 1), Strong's G3848.
Definition References: Romans 2:25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
Romans 2:27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your [a]written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?
James 2:9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
James 2:11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Moving to Verse 19.
Galatians 2:19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.
Romans 6:2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
Romans 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Died To The Law; lit., "to die off or out," ie, Believers have spiritually "died" to the Law as a means of life. The Greek word for "die" here is ἀποθνήσκω apothnesko. Vine's (def 2), Strong's G599.
Takeaway - This section isn't really aimed at today's Christians in its pure context (unless you are trying to live by the law of Moses), but in parallel, as the Jews were not saved by the law and are called to grace, we are called to die to our old lives and live to the grace that Christ offers. We can only be justified through faith in Him, there is no other means of justification. Galatians will do a deep dive into this in the coming chapter.
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