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Selected Verse: Galatians 2:18 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ga 2:18 |
Strong Concordance |
For [1063] if [1487] I build [3618] again [3825] the things [5023] which [3739] I destroyed [2647], I make [4921] myself [1683] a transgressor [3848]. |
| |
King James |
For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| Greek, "For if the things which I overthrew (by the faith of Christ), those very things I build up again (namely, legal righteousness, by subjecting myself to the law), I prove myself (literally, 'I commend myself') a transgressor." Instead of commending yourself as you sought to do (Gal 2:12, end), you merely commend yourself as a transgressor. The "I" is intended by Paul for Peter to take to himself, as it is his case, not Paul's own, that is described. A "transgressor" is another word for "sinner" (in Gal 2:17), for "sin is the transgression of the law." You, Peter, by now asserting the law to be obligatory, are proving yourself a "sinner," or "transgressor," in your having set it aside by living as the Gentiles, and with them. Thus you are debarred by transgression from justification by the law, and you debar yourself from justification by Christ, since in your theory He becomes a minister of sin. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| For if I build again the things which I destroyed - Paul here uses the first person; but he evidently intends it as a general proposition, and means that if anyone does it he becomes a transgressor. The sense is, that if a man, having removed or destroyed that which was evil, again introduces it or establishes it, he does wrong, and is a transgressor of the Law of God. The particular application here, as it seems to me, is to the subject of circumcision and the other rites of the Mosaic law. They had been virtually abolished by the coming of the Redeemer, and by the doctrine of justification by faith. It had been seen that there was no necessity for their observance, and of that Peter and the others had been fully aware. Yet they were lending their influence again to establish them or to build them up again. They complied with them, and they insisted on the necessity of their observance. Their conduct, therefore, was that of building up again that which had once been destroyed, destroyed by the ministry, and toils, and death of the Lord Jesus, and by the fair influence of his gospel. To rebuild that again; to re-establish those customs, was wrong, and now involved the guilt of a transgression of the Law of God. Doddridge supposes that this is an address to the Galatians, and that the address to Peter closed at the previous verse. But it is impossible to determine this; and it seems to me more probable that this is all a part of the address to Peter; or rather perhaps to the assembly when Peter was present; see the note at Gal 2:15. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
transgressor
Sin
(See Scofield) - (Rom 3:23). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
I build again the things which I destroyed (ἃ κατέλυσα ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδομῶ)
Peter, by his Christian profession, had asserted that justification was by faith alone; and by his eating with Gentiles had declared that the Mosaic law was no longer binding upon him. He had thus, figuratively, destroyed or pulled down the Jewish law as a standard of Christian faith and conduct. By his subsequent refusal to eat with Gentiles he had retracted this declaration, had asserted that the Jewish law was still binding upon Christians, and had thus built again what he had pulled down. Building and pulling down are favorite figures with Paul. See Rom 14:20; Rom 15:20; Co1 8:1, Co1 8:10; Co1 10:23; Co1 14:17; Eph 2:20 f. For καταλύειν destroy, see on Rom 14:20; see on Co2 5:1.
I make myself (ἐμαυτὸν συνιστάνω)
Better, prove myself. The verb originally means to put together: thence to put one person in contact with another by way of introducing him and bespeaking for him confidence and approval. To commend, as Rom 16:1; comp. Rom 5:8; Co2 3:1; Co2 4:2; Co2 5:12. As proof, or exhibition of the true state of a case is furnished by putting things together, the word comes to mean demonstrate, exhibit the fact, as here, Rom 3:5; Co2 6:11.
A transgressor (παραβάτην)
See on Jam 2:11, and see on παράβασις transgression, Rom 2:23. In reasserting the validity of the law for justification, which he had denied by seeking justification by faith in Christ, he proves himself a transgressor in that denial, that pulling down. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| By no means. For if I build again - By my sinful practice. The things which I destroyed - By my preaching, I only make myself - Or show myself, not Christ, to be a transgressor; the whole blame lies on me, not him or his gospel. As if he had said, The objection were just, if the gospel promised justification to men continuing in sin. But it does not. Therefore if any who profess the gospel do not live according to it, they are sinners, it is certain, but not justified, and so the gospel is clear. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| For if I build again the things which I destroyed - If I act like a Jew, and enjoin the observance of the law on the Gentiles, which I have repeatedly asserted and proved to be abolished by the death of Christ, then I build up what I destroyed, and thus make myself a transgressor, by not observing the law in that way in which I appear to enjoin the observance of it upon others. |
17 But [1161] if [1487], while we seek [2212] to be justified [1344] by [1722] Christ [5547], we [2147] ourselves [846] also [2532] are found [2147] sinners [268], is therefore [687] Christ [5547] the minister [1249] of sin [266]? God forbid [3361] [1096].
12 For [1063] before [4253] that certain [5100] came [2064] from [575] James [2385], he did eat [4906] with [3326] the Gentiles [1484]: but [1161] when [3753] they were come [2064], he withdrew [5288] and [2532] separated [873] himself [1438], fearing [5399] them which were of [1537] the circumcision [4061].
15 We [2249] who are Jews [2453] by nature [5449], and [2532] not [3756] sinners [268] of [1537] the Gentiles [1484],
23 For [1063] all [3956] have sinned [264], and [2532] come short [5302] of the glory [1391] of God [2316];
23 Thou [3739] that makest thy boast [2744] of [1722] the law [3551], through [1223] breaking [3847] the law [3551] dishonourest thou [818] God [2316]?
11 For [1063] he that said [2036], Do [3431] not [3361] commit adultery [3431], said [2036] also [2532], Do [5407] not [3361] kill [5407]. Now [1161] if [1487] thou commit [3431] no [3756] adultery [3431], yet if [1161] thou kill [5407], thou art become [1096] a transgressor [3848] of the law [3551].
11 O ye Corinthians [2881], our [2257] mouth [4750] is open [455] unto [4314] you [5209], our [2257] heart [2588] is enlarged [4115].
5 But [1161] if [1487] our [2257] unrighteousness [93] commend [4921] the righteousness [1343] of God [2316], what [5101] shall we say [2046]? [3361] Is God [2316] unrighteous [94] who taketh [2018] vengeance [3709]? (I speak [3004] as [2596] a man [444])
12 For [1063] we commend [4921] not [3756] ourselves [1438] again [3825] unto you [5213], but [235] give [1325] you [5213] occasion [874] to glory [2745] on [5228] our [2257] behalf [5228], that [2443] ye may have [2192] somewhat to [4314] answer them which glory [2744] in [1722] appearance [4383], and [2532] not [3756] in heart [2588].
2 But [235] have renounced [550] the hidden things [2927] of dishonesty [152], not [3361] walking [4043] in [1722] craftiness [3834], nor [3366] handling [1389] the word [3056] of God [2316] deceitfully [1389]; but [235] by manifestation [5321] of the truth [225] commending [4921] ourselves [1438] to [4314] every [3956] man's [444] conscience [4893] in the sight [1799] of God [2316].
1 Do we begin [756] again [3825] to commend [4921] ourselves [1438]? or [1508] need we [5535], as [5613] some [5100] others, epistles [1992] of commendation [4956] to [4314] you [5209], or [2228] letters of commendation [4956] from [1537] you [5216]?
8 But [1161] God [2316] commendeth [4921] his [1438] love [26] toward [1519] us [2248], in that [3754], while we [2257] were [5607] yet [2089] sinners [268], Christ [5547] died [599] for [5228] us [2257].
1 [1161] I commend [4921] unto you [5213] Phebe [5402] our [2257] sister [79], which is [5607] a servant [1249] of the church [1577] which [3588] is at [1722] Cenchrea [2747]:
1 For [1063] we know [1492] that [3754] if [1437] our [2257] earthly [1919] house [3614] of this tabernacle [4636] were dissolved [2647], we have [2192] a building [3619] of [1537] God [2316], an house [3614] not made with hands [886], eternal [166] in [1722] the heavens [3772].
20 For [1752] meat [1033] destroy [2647] not [3361] the work [2041] of God [2316]. All things [3956] indeed [3303] are pure [2513]; but [235] it is evil [2556] for that man [444] who eateth [2068] with [1223] offence [4348].
20 And are built [2026] upon [1909] the foundation [2310] of the apostles [652] and [2532] prophets [4396], Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] himself [846] being [5607] the chief corner [204] stone;
17 For [1063] thou [4771] verily [3303] givest thanks [2168] well [2573], but [235] the other [2087] is [3618] not [3756] edified [3618].
23 All things [3956] are lawful [1832] for me [3427], but [235] all things [3956] are [4851] not [3756] expedient [4851]: all things [3956] are lawful [1832] for me [3427], but [235] all things [3956] edify [3618] not [3756].
10 For [1063] if [1437] any man [5100] see [1492] thee [4571] which [3588] hast [2192] knowledge [1108] sit at meat [2621] in [1722] the idol's temple [1493], shall [3618] not [3780] the conscience [4893] of him [846] which is [5607] weak [772] be emboldened [3618] [1519] to eat [2068] those things which are offered to idols [1494];
1 Now [1161] as touching [4012] things offered unto idols [1494], we know [1492] that [3754] we all [3956] have [2192] knowledge [1108]. Knowledge [1108] puffeth up [5448], but [1161] charity [26] edifieth [3618].
20 Yea [1161], so [3779] have I strived [5389] to preach the gospel [2097], not [3756] where [3699] Christ [5547] was named [3687], lest [3363] I should build [3618] upon [1909] another man's [245] foundation [2310]:
20 For [1752] meat [1033] destroy [2647] not [3361] the work [2041] of God [2316]. All things [3956] indeed [3303] are pure [2513]; but [235] it is evil [2556] for that man [444] who eateth [2068] with [1223] offence [4348].