Galatians 2:19
For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.
Truth to Learn
We are no longer subject to the law, we are free to obey God.
Behind the Words
The word translated “through” is the Greek word dia. Like its English equivalent this word can imply: 1-Motion through space, 2-Continuance through time, or 3-Cause or instrumentality. In the current verse it implies cause or instrumentality.
Meaning Explained
This is yet another verse that is difficult to understand and the meaning of which has been much debated. Again, there are two schools of thought. The first is that the expression “through the law” actually refers to the doctrines of Christianity. The word translated “law” is a form of “nomos” which is normally translated as “law” but can also express a school of doctrine. It is this sense in which Paul refers to the law of Christ in Galatians 6:2. Hence the meaning of this verse could be, “For through the doctrine of Christ I died to the Law of Moses that I might live to God.”
The other interpretation of this verse is that Paul is saying it was the Law of Moses that led him to understand the truth about Christ. In this sense, the Law of Moses was his tutor as he expresses later in Galatians 3:24:
But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:22-24)
This is the more natural interpretation of what Paul is saying here. That is, through the Law of Moses I was introduced to the liberating truth of faith in Jesus Christ. And, as a result of that faith I am now dead to the Law of Moses and alive through faith so that I might live to God in a manner that places me righteous in His eyes. Paul expressed this in a similar way in his letter to the Christians at Rome.
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, … But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:4a, 6)
Either way we interpret this, it is clear that we are dead to the Law. Just as the Constitution and laws of our own land have no influence on the thoughts and behavior of someone who is physically dead, so the Law of Moses has no influence on us since we are dead to the Law and alive to Christ. Now, He is the only thing that should be influencing our thoughts and actions.
Application
Since we are dead to the law, it has no power over us and we are not, indeed cannot be, subject to its requirements. But we are now alive (spiritually) to God and must, therefore, be subject to Him. We are no longer forced to sin. Instead, we are free to obey God.
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2007 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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