The Meaning of Galatians 2:19 Explained

Galatians 2:19

KJV: For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

YLT: for I through law, did die, that to God I may live;

Darby: For I, through law, have died to law, that I may live to God.

ASV: For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  I  through  the law  am dead  to the law,  that  I might live  unto God. 

What does Galatians 2:19 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This verse means that the Law condemns or kills everyone. If someone is dead, he has no more responsibility to what killed him. He is in that sense free (cf. Romans 7). He can from then on devote his energy as a resurrected person not to pleasing the Law but to pleasing God.
"By virtue of his incorporation into Christ (cf. Galatians 2:17) and participation in Christ"s death Paul has undergone a death whereby his relation to the law has been decisively severed and the law has ceased to have any claim on him (cf. Romans 7:4; Romans 7:6). But since the vicarious death of Christ for sinners was exacted by the law (cf. Galatians 3:13) and was "first an affirmation of [1] verdict," Paul"s death to the law through participation in Christ"s death can be said to be "through [2] the law." This death "through the law ... to the law" means not only that the law as a false way of righteousness has been set aside but also that the believer is set free from the dominion of the law (under which there is transgression, Romans 4:15) for a life of consecration to God (cf. Romans 7:6)." [3]

Context Summary

Galatians 2:11-21 - Living By Faith In Christ
Evidently Peter had gone back from the clear revelation of Acts 10:1-48, and from his former practice as stated in Galatians 2:12. The fear of the conservative party of the mother Church had brought him into a snare. His example had a very unfortunate effect upon the rest of the Hebrew Christians, who took their lead from him. But Paul's remonstrance probably brought Peter back to his former and happier practice.
Paul goes on to show that the death of Christ has taken us altogether out of the realm of the ancient Law, with its restrictions and distinctions between clean and unclean, Jew and Gentile, Galatians 2:15-19. If the conservative view was right, and it was wrong to eat with the Gentiles, then all that Christ had done and taught was in vain. Indeed, he had become a minister to sin, Galatians 2:17, because he had taught his people to associate with Gentiles. But such a suggestion was, of course, unthinkable, and therefore Peter was wrong in withdrawing from Gentile fellowship.
Then the Apostle breaks out into the memorable confession of the power of the Cross in his own life, Galatians 2:20-21. It stood between him and the past. His self-life was nailed there, and this new life was no longer derived from vain efforts to keep the Law, but from the indwelling and uprising of the life of Jesus-the perennial spring of John 4:14. [source]

Chapter Summary: Galatians 2

1  He shows when he went up again to Jerusalem, and for what purpose;
3  and that Titus was not circumcised;
11  and that he resisted Peter, and told him the reason;
14  why he and others, being Jews, believe in Christ to be justified by faith, and not by works;
20  and that they live not in sin, who are so justified

Greek Commentary for Galatians 2:19

I through the law died to the law [εγω δια νομου νομωι απετανον]
Paradoxical, but true. See note on Romans 7:4, note on Romans 7:6 for picture of how the law waked Paul up to his real death to the law through Christ. [source]
For [γὰρ]
Justifying the previous thought that the reerection of the law as a standard of Christian life and a means of justification is a condemnation of the faith which relies on Christ alone for righteousness. [source]
I, through the law, am dead to the law [ἐγὼ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον]
For am dead, render died. Faith in Christ created a complete and irreparable break with the law which is described as death to the law. Comp. Romans 7:4, Romans 7:6. The law itself was the instrument of this break, see next verse Ἑγὼ is emphatic. Paul appeals to his personal experience, his decided break with the law in contrast with Peter's vacillation. [source]
Might live unto God [θεῷ ζήσω]
With death to the law a new principle of life entered. For the phrase, see Romans 6:10, Romans 6:11. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Galatians 2:19

John 19:32 Which was crucified with him [του συνσταυρωτεντος αυτωι]
First aorist passive articular participle of συνσταυροω — sunstauroō with associative instrumental case. Cf. Paul‘s Χριστωι συνεσταυρωμαι — Christōi sunestaurōmai (Galatians 2:19). [source]
Galatians 5:24 Crucified the flesh [την σαρκα εσταυρωσαν]
Definite event, first aorist active indicative of σταυροω — stauroō as in Galatians 2:19 (mystical union with Christ). Paul uses σαρχ — sarx here in the same sense as in Galatians 5:16, Galatians 5:17, Galatians 5:19, “the force in men that makes for evil” (Burton). [source]
Galatians 6:14 Hath been crucified unto me [εμοι εσταυρωται]
Perfect passive indicative of σταυροω — stauroō stands crucified, with the ethical dative again This is one of the great sayings of Paul concerning his relation to Christ and the world in contrast with the Judaizers. Cf. Galatians 2:19.; Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:4.; 1 Corinthians 1:23.; Romans 1:16; Romans 3:21.; Romans 4:25; Romans 5:18. World (κοσμος — kosmos) has no article, but is definite as in 2 Corinthians 5:19. Paul‘s old world of Jewish descent and environment is dead to him (Philemon 3:3.). [source]
2 Timothy 1:1 Of life which is in Christ Jesus []
The phrase promise of life only here and 1 Timothy 4:8. oP. Life in Christ is a Pauline thought. See Romans 8:2; 2 Corinthians 4:10; Romans 6:2-14; Galatians 2:19, Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:4; Philemon 1:21. It is also a Johannine thought; see John 1:4; John 3:15; John 6:25; John 14:6; 1 John 5:11. [source]

What do the individual words in Galatians 2:19 mean?

I for through [the] Law to [the] Law died that to God I might live
ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον ἵνα Θεῷ ζήσω

διὰ  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
νόμου  [the]  Law 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: νόμος  
Sense: anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command.
νόμῳ  to  [the]  Law 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: νόμος  
Sense: anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command.
ἀπέθανον  died 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἀποθνῄσκω  
Sense: to die.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
Θεῷ  to  God 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ζήσω  I  might  live 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).