Galatians 2:15 (DBY)

Passage

We, Jews by nature, and not sinners of [the] nations,

Nearby Context

Galatians 2:13 and the rest of the Jews also played the same dissembling part with him; so that even Barnabas was carried away too by their dissimulation.

Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they do not walk straightforwardly, according to the truth of the glad tidings, I said to Peter before all, If *thou*, being a Jew, livest as the nations and not as the Jews, how dost thou compel the nations to Judaize?

Galatians 2:15 We, Jews by nature, and not sinners of [the] nations,

Galatians 2:16 but knowing that a man is not justified on the principle of works of law [nor] but by the faith of Jesus Christ, *we* also have believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified on the principle of [the] faith of Christ; and not of works of law; because on the principle of works of law no flesh shall be justified.

Galatians 2:17 Now if in seeking to be justified in Christ we also have been found sinners, then [is] Christ minister of sin? Far be the thought.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "jews", "nature", "sinners", and "nations". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "jews" and "nature", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "But when I saw that they do..." into verse 16's "but knowing that a man is not...", so "jews" and "nature" belong inside that flow. In Galatians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "jews" and "nature" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.