Galatians 5:4
(KJV) Christ is
become of no effect unto you,
whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
(1611 KJV) Christ is
become of no effect vnto you,
whosoeuer of you are iustified by the Law: ye are fallen from grace.
(1568 Bishops Bible) Christe is
become but vayne to you, as
many of you as are iustified by the lawe, are fallen from grace.
Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) are severed from Christ, ye who would be
justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.
(1901 ASV) Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be
justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.
(AMP) If you seek to be justified and declared
righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are
brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away
from grace (from God’s gracious favor and unmerited blessing).
(CEB) You people who are trying to be made righteous
by the Law have been estranged from Christ. You have fallen away from grace!
(CEV) And if you try to please God by obeying the Law,
you have cut yourself off from Christ and his wonderful kindness.
-
(CSB) You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from
Christ; you have fallen from grace.
- (Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition) You are made void
of Christ, you who are justified in the law: you are fallen from grace.
(ERV) If you try to be made right with God through the
law, your life with Christ is finished—you have left God’s grace.
(ESV) You are severed from Christ, you who would be
justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
(GNB) Those of you who try to be put right with God by
obeying the Law have cut yourselves off from Christ. You are outside God's
grace.
(HCSB) You who are trying to be justified by the law
are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.
(JB PHILLIPS) If you try to be justified by the Law
you automatically cut yourself off from the power of Christ, you put yourself
outside the range of his grace.
(THE MESSAGE) I suspect you would never intend this,
but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans
and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) You are separated from Christ,
you who are trying to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
(NASV) You have been severed from Christ, you who are
seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
(NCV) If you try to be made right with God through the
law, your life with Christ is over—you have left God’s grace.
(NET) You who are trying to be declared righteous by
the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace!
(NIRV) Some of you are trying to be made right with
God by obeying the law. You have been separated from Christ. You have fallen
away from God’s grace.
(NIV) You who are trying to be justified by the law
have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
(NKJV) You have become estranged from Christ, you who
attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
(NLV) If you expect to be made right with God by
obeying the Law, then you have turned away from Christ and His loving-favor.
(NLT) For if you are trying to make yourselves right
with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen
away from God’s grace.
(RSV) You are severed from Christ, you who would be
justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
(VOICE) You, and anyone else who seeks to be on the
right side of God through the law, have effectively been cut off from the
Anointed, circumcised from grace, and cast off from the favor of God.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) You are separated from
Christ, you who are trying to be declared righteous by means of law; you have
fallen away from his undeserved kindness.
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
κατηργηθητε
απο του χριστου οιτινες εν νομω δικαιουσθε της χαριτος εξεπεσατε
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
κατηργηθητε
απο χριστου οιτινες εν νομω δικαιουσθε της χαριτος εξεπεσατε
Corrupted Manuscripts
None
Affected Teaching
Here is a case where the modern versions make a wrong
translation. The gist of this verse is that Christ and Grace have no effect on
the life of one who desires to keep the physical law. It does not speak about
being estranged or cut off. Cut off in the Old Testament meant that a person
could actually lose their life and nothing like that is in view here. Exodus
31:14 (KJV) Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every
one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work
therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. The word
behind “no effect” is the word “katargeo” which carries with it the meaning of
“make or render useless.” It does not have a meaning of being cut off or
estranged.
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