Galatians 2:20 Explained

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." — Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

Galatians 2:20 is Paul's most personal statement of what union with Christ means — a death and a new life lived from the inside out.

Read it in context: The Book of Galatians. Also gathered under verses about faith.

Galatians 2:20 in context

What does Galatians 2:20 mean?

A paradox: 'I am crucified... nevertheless I live... yet not I, but Christ.' The self that tried to earn God's favor has died. The new life is lived 'by the faith of the Son of God' — dependent, not self-powered. The personal note lands hard: 'who loved me, and gave himself for me.' Not humanity in general — me.

What is the context of Galatians 2:20?

Paul is defending justification by faith against those adding law-keeping to the gospel. Verse 20 is the climax of his personal testimony: the old law-bound self has died with Christ; what lives now is Christ in him.

How do I pray Galatians 2:20?

Pray this verse in the first person, slowly. Where are you still trying to live 'I' instead of 'Christ in me'? Surrender that. End on the personal clause: 'who loved ME, and gave himself for ME.'

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