Not setting aside the grace of God

Says “I do not set aside the grace of God”. The Greek is οὐκ ἀθετῶ τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ (ouk athetō tēn charin tou theou, “I do not nullify the grace of God”). “For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing”. The last word is δωρεὰν (dōrean, “for nothing”). The wording is treated in Died to the law, crucified with Christ (2:19–21).

Implies If righteousness were through the law, Christ’s death would be for nothing; the grace of God and that death stand or fall together. The verse does not set the law aside as if it had never spoken; 2:19 has already said that it was through the law that he died to the law.

Says The claim belongs with 2:16 and 2:20: justification is not by works of the law, and the life now lived is the life of the Son who gave himself.