Galatians 3 12

Galatians 3:12 kjv

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Galatians 3:12 nkjv

Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."

Galatians 3:12 niv

The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, "The person who does these things will live by them."

Galatians 3:12 esv

But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them."

Galatians 3:12 nlt

This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, "It is through obeying the law that a person has life."

Galatians 3 verses

Galatians 3 12 Meaning

This verse emphasizes that the system of justification through adherence to the Law is inherently impossible and self-condemning. It highlights the strict and unyielding demands of the Law, stating that no one can fulfill all its requirements perfectly. Therefore, reliance on works of the Law for righteousness ultimately leads to condemnation rather than acquittal.

Galatians 3 12 Context

Galatians 3:12 is situated within a broader argument by the Apostle Paul addressing the Galatian churches. These churches, influenced by Judaizers, were being taught that Gentile believers needed to adhere to Mosaic Law, including circumcision, to be truly saved or to fully benefit from Christ's salvation. Paul's response is a passionate defense of justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ, apart from the works of the Law. He contrasts the Mosaic Law's requirement for perfect obedience with the life-giving reality of faith in Christ. This verse follows his assertion in verse 11 that "no one is justified by the law," and directly sets up his point in verse 13 that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. The historical context involves early Christianity's struggle to define its relationship with Judaism and the Law.

Galatians 3 12 Word Analysis

• “But” (δὲ - de): A conjunction, introducing a contrast to the previous statement or thought. Here, it contrasts the life promised by righteousness through faith with the reality of condemnation inherent in seeking righteousness through the Law.
• “the righteousness” (ἡ δικαιοσύνη - hē dikaiosynē): The state of being right or just. In a theological context, it refers to being declared righteous before God. The article "the" points to a specific kind of righteousness – that which is earned or maintained through adherence to the Law.
• “which is of the law” (ἐκ τοῦ νόμου - ek tou nomou): "From the law" or "out of the law." This phrase indicates the source or basis of this righteousness. It’s a righteousness derived from fulfilling, or attempting to fulfill, the stipulations of the Mosaic Law.
• “man” (ἄνθρωπος - anthrōpos): Refers to humanity in general, humankind. It underscores the universal inability of humans to achieve righteousness through the Law.
• “shall do them” (ποιήσας αὐτά - poiēsas auta): "Having done them" or "doing them." The participle implies continued action or a comprehensive doing of the Law’s requirements. The Greek text suggests an accomplished feat. The critical point is that the Law demands complete performance.
• “shall live by them” (ἐξ αὐτῶν ζήσεται - ex autōn zēssetai): "From them he shall live." This refers back to the promise of life attached to obedience in the Law (Leviticus 18:5, Deuteronomy 4:1). Paul states that the prerequisite for life from the Law is to successfully perform all its commands.

Words-group analysis:

• “the righteousness which is of the law”: This entire phrase points to a self-generated or Law-based righteousness, distinct from God’s imputed righteousness through faith. It’s the idea of earning favor with God by keeping rules.
• “man shall do them and live by them”: This represents the Law's explicit condition for life: perfect obedience. Paul argues that no one has met this condition.

Galatians 3 12 Bonus Section

The phrasing “live by them” (ζήσεται ἐξ αὐτῶν) directly recalls the conditional promise in Leviticus 18:5 and Deuteronomy 4:1. Leviticus 18:5 states, "You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them. I am the LORD." This promise was originally given to Israel under the Mosaic Covenant. However, as Paul argued elsewhere (Romans 7), the Law exposed the sinfulness of human nature and highlighted inability rather than empowering obedience unto life for fallen humanity. By asserting that "the man who does them shall live by them," Paul highlights the unachieved perfection required, rendering the Law impotent as a means of obtaining life for any individual. This sets the stage for Christ's role as the one who did fulfill the Law's perfect demands and, more importantly, bore its curse for believers (Galatians 3:13).

Galatians 3 12 Commentary

Paul confronts the dangerous legalism creeping into the Galatian church. The core of the Law's demand was absolute perfection. If one perfectly kept every single statute, ceremonial, judicial, and moral, life was promised (Leviticus 18:5). But humanity, after the Fall, lacks the inherent capacity for such unblemished obedience. The Law itself, by revealing sin and God's standards, paradoxically increases awareness of transgression and the resulting judgment. Thus, the Law becomes a conduit for wrath when broken, rather than a pathway to life. Paul underscores this by citing Deuteronomy 27:26, emphasizing that failure in even one point invokes the curse. This is why seeking life through the Law is futile; it guarantees condemnation for everyone. This is the absolute impossibility that forces a person to look outside themselves, to God’s provision in Christ.

Practical Usage:

• Recognizing the impossibility of earning God’s favor through good works or rule-following.
• Understanding that personal attempts at self-righteousness are fundamentally flawed and lead to spiritual failure.
• Appreciating the sufficiency of Christ's finished work and God's grace for salvation.