Well, I have seen a doctrine go around that has subtly caused damage by misdirecting focus. What doctrine is that? The doctrine that we can live by the faith of the Son Of God.
I know what Galatians 2:20 says in the King James, and the modern translations. The KJV says "of," the recent versions say "in." I wanted to see what the original Greek said. I found out something surprising. They are wrong!
What I found was that the Greek language does not have an equivalent to the English word 'of,' so it can't be there. When I checked further, the Greek text does not say 'en,' the equivalent of 'in' either, so no word is there between 'faith' and 'Son.' Now you see why I say that those translations are are wrong.
So the text should read like this:
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith _ the Son _ God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
What shall we put in the blanks?
I will admit that 'of' could fit between 'Son' and 'God.' But the other blank presents a problem.
We could put in 'of,' but if we do, we should show it in italics to show that the word was the translator's choice. How can we defend or explain that choice
What does 'of' mean anyway? We usually use 'of' to indicate origin, possession, or nature. Examples: 'man of steel' (nature), 'the heart of the matter' (possession), 'balm of Gilead' (origin). Did Paul mean that he lived by faith that belonged to, or came from, or was made of Jesus? I can't say for sure, but I can see danger in all these choices. When I hear someone defend the KJV choice, they often speak in line with the New Thought based Word of Faith doctrine. This doctrine emphasizes miracles, signs, and wonders, and minimizes salvation. It also changes faith as a relationship feature into some mystical force that we can somehow manipulate or use to manipulate our environment.
I would favor 'in' for a very good reason. Most people put their faith in their parents, their siblings, and their friends.
I see another option for filling in the blank. It is not a word. It is a punctuation mark, a colon. That makes the phrase, "the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me," into a statement, a confession of the faith Paul lived by.
We often forget the cultural environment that the Good News of Jesus was born in, and began to spread. Most people grew up believing in many gods, and they saw their monarchs as gods, or descendents of gods. They connected their gods to their homelands. When one nation defeated another, they saw it as a victory of one god over another. To prove one's citizenship and loyalty to one's god and country, they would confess their faith in their god.
When one expressed faith in a different god than the local god, they often faced opposition. This could range from mild ridicule to death. We can all read of the opposition Paul and the other early disciples faced.
Consider the following passages, and you can see they are, or contain, confessions, or statements of faith.
1 Timothy 3:16 NASB1995
By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
2 Timothy 2:8-13 NASB1995
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
Titus 3:4-8 NASB1995
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.
That first passage calls the mystery of godliness a common confession. I believe this indicates the early disciples may have developed this statement of faith, and other statements, as standard confession of their faith in Christ. Since the cannon of Scripture was not yet complete, and the Gentile disciples probably did have copies of the Jewish books, these statements may have also served as tools to help them remember doctrine as well.
Does it fit the context?
Well let's see -
Galatians 2:16-21 NASB1995
... nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith: the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
Paul lived by trusting the Jesus who died for him, because he knew he didn't deserve such love.
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