Galatians 2:17 (DBY)

Passage

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.

Nearby Context

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.

Galatians 2:18 For if the things I have thrown down, these I build again, I constitute myself a transgressor.

Galatians 2:19 For *I*, through law, have died to law, that I may live to God.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "justified", "seeking", "christ", "been", "found", "sinners", and "minister". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "justified" and "seeking", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "but knowing that a man is not..." into verse 18's "For if the things I have thrown...", so "justified" and "seeking" 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 "justified" and "seeking" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.