Galatians 2:15-16
What is written? (ESV)
We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
What does it say?
We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, and know that it isn’t works of the Mosaic Law that justifies a person, but rather faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have believed and have faith in Jesus in order to be justified by faith and not by works in the Law, since that will justify no one.
What is its immediate context?
Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia – churches that he had established not too long ago on his first missionary journey (Acts 13-14). He is astonished by their quick turning from the gospel due to, in particular, “Judaizing teachers” that required Gentiles to be circumcised (affectively, accepting Judaism) before becoming, or in order to become, a Christian. This was a significant issue throughout first-century Christianity and almost immediately becomes a problem after Paul’s first journey to Galatia (Acts 15). Apparently, there was a “stigma” cast on Christians that had not been Jews first – or not part of the “circumcision party” (2:12), and even Peter is somewhat affected by this teaching (2:11-14).
How Galatians 2:15-16 is applied across Bible answers
How are works defined in the Bible?
Paul is addressing Jewish Christians who are dealing with (and being swayed by) teachers who were saying one must become a Jew first, before becoming a Christian. Therefore, he must reiterate that we are justified (lit. "made right") by faith in Jesus, not by anything we do on our own.
Paul is directly confronting the "circumcision party" (vs 14) that taught a works-based salvation. Specifically, they taught that Gentiles must be circumcised in the flesh to be a Christian, which Paul calls effectively "a different gospel" (1:6).
