Galatians 2:17 Meaning and Explanation
“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not.
What Does Galatians 2:17 Mean?
Paul anticipates an objection. If we abandon the law to be justified in Christ, and then are still found to be sinners, does that mean Christ leads us into sin? Some might twist the freedom of the gospel into an excuse for it. Paul recoils from the thought.
His answer is emphatic: 'God forbid.' Christ is not the author of sin, and grace is no license for it. The problem was never that the gospel makes people lawless; the problem is the assumption that abandoning law-righteousness means abandoning righteousness itself. It does not, as the next verses make clear.
Frequently Asked Questions About Galatians 2:17
What does Galatians 2:17 mean?
If, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not.