exegetical · Gal 2:17–18 · ✓ Approved

Is Christ a minister of sin?

Says “But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not!” The answer is μὴ γένοιτο (mē genoito, “may it not be”). “If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker”. The wording is treated in A minister of sin, and a transgressor (2:17–18).

Implies The refusal denies that Christ serves sin and places the fault in rebuilding what was torn down, not in seeking to be justified in Christ.

Uncertain The Greek has no quotation marks. The BSB closes the address at the end of 2:14. Calvin writes, “We must take care not to connect this verse with the preceding one, as if it were a part of the speech addressed to Peter” and adds, “but let every one form his own opinion.” Burton writes, “How much of what follows was actually uttered on this occasion it is impossible to say with certainty.” He also writes that “it is improbable that he intends to limit his report of his words on that occasion to a single sentence” These are their readings; no verdict is given here.

Claims

SaysIf, seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found sinners, that does not make Christ a minister of sin. If I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself a lawbreaker.
ImpliesThe refusal denies that Christ serves sin and places the fault in rebuilding what was torn down, not in seeking to be justified in Christ.
UncertainThe Greek has no quotation marks. The BSB closes the address at the end of 2:14. Calvin would not connect 2:17 with the preceding verse as part of the speech addressed to Peter, and leaves each reader to form an opinion. Burton holds that how much of what follows was uttered on that occasion cannot be said with certainty, and that it is improbable the report is limited to a single sentence. These are their readings; no verdict is given here.

Citations

BSB public domain Gal 2:17–18
SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Gal 2:17–18
Calvin, Galatians (Pringle) public domain p. 70 (leaf n83)
Calvin, Galatians (Pringle) public domain p. 70 (leaf n83)
Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain p. 111 (leaf n204)
Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain p. 111 (leaf n204)

Sources Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Calvin, Galatians (Pringle) public domain Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain

2026-11-13

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