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J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Galatians 2:20

With Christ, have I been crucified; and, living no longer, am, I, but, living in me, is, Christ, - while, so far as I now do live in flesh, by faith, I live - The faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up in my behalf.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Crucifixion;   Faith;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Justification;   Redemption;   Regeneration;   Righteous;   Sanctification;   Self-Denial;   Suffering;   Testimony;   Scofield Reference Index - Faith;   Life;   Thompson Chain Reference - Christ;   Church;   Dead;   Dying with Christ;   Indwelling Christ;   Life;   Life-Death;   Love;   Love-Hatred;   Sin;   Surrendered Life, Characteristics of;   Temple, Spiritual;   The Topic Concordance - Faith/faithfulness;   Jesus Christ;   Justification;   Law;   Life;   Love;   Sacrifice;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Atonement, the;   Death of Christ, the;   Faith;   Justification before God;   Life, Spiritual;   Love of Christ, the;   Union with Christ;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Justificiation;   Life;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Cross;   Denial;   Faith;   Flesh;   Holy spirit;   Love;   Magic;   Paul;   Suffering;   Trinity;   World;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Baptize, Baptism;   Body of Christ;   Death, Mortality;   Death of Christ;   Fellowship;   Flesh;   Gospel;   Image of God;   Jesus Christ, Name and Titles of;   Legalism;   Life;   Righteousness;   Sanctification;   Sin;   Sleep;   Spirituality;   Union with Christ;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Church;   Glory;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Sanctification;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Cherub (1);   Flesh;   Galatians, the Epistle to the;   Sacrifice;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Atonement;   Circumcision;   Cross, Crucifixion;   Death;   Flesh;   Galatians, Letter to the;   Human Free Will;   Paul;   Romans, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Antioch;   Atonement;   Council;   Cross;   Flesh;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Grace;   Justification, Justify;   Law;   Life;   Love, Lover, Lovely, Beloved;   Person of Christ;   Peter;   Possession;   Sanctification, Sanctify;   Self-Surrender;   Sin;   World;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Acceptance;   Atonement (2);   Brotherly Love;   Caesarea Philippi;   Character;   Children of God;   Christian Life;   Communion;   Communion (2);   Conscience ;   Cross, Cross-Bearing;   Death of Christ;   Dependence;   Devotion;   Eternal Life (2);   Example;   Faction;   Faith;   Fellowship;   Fellowship (2);   Galatians Epistle to the;   Gospels (2);   Grace ;   Ideal;   Impotence;   Judas Iscariot;   Justification;   Justification (2);   Law;   Majesty (2);   Mediation Mediator;   Paul (2);   Personality;   Pre-Eminence ;   Presence;   Reconciliation;   Redemption;   Religion (2);   Resurrection;   Sacrifice;   Sacrifice (2);   Saint;   Sanctify, Sanctification;   Self- Denial;   Trust;   Union;   Vicarious Sacrifice;   Will;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Crucifixion;   8 To Love, Have Affection for;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Peter;   Vocation;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Atonement;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Give;   Law in the New Testament;   Love;   Pauline Theology;   Regeneration;   Salvation;   Sanctification;   Self-Surrender;   Sinlessness;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for September 5;   Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for October 23;   Every Day Light - Devotion for December 3;   Today's Word from Skip Moen - Devotion for July 31;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for March 8;  

Parallel Translations

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Contemporary English Version
I have died, but Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.
Complete Jewish Bible
When the Messiah was executed on the stake as a criminal, I was too; so that my proud ego no longer lives. But the Messiah lives in me, and the life I now live in my body I live by the same trusting faithfulness that the Son of God had, who loved me and gave himself up for me.
Darby Translation
I am crucified with Christ, and no longer live, *I*, but Christ lives in me; but [in] that I now live in flesh, I live by faith, the [faith] of the Son of God, who has loved me and given himself for me.
Easy-to-Read Version
So I am not the one living now—it is Christ living in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God. He is the one who loved me and gave himself to save me.
American Standard Version
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
Bible in Basic English
I have been put to death on the cross with Christ; still I am living; no longer I, but Christ is living in me; and that life which I now am living in the flesh I am living by faith, the faith of the Son of God, who in love for me, gave himself up for me.
Geneva Bible (1587)
I am crucified with Christ, but I liue, yet not I any more, but Christ liueth in me: and in that that I now liue in the flesh, I liue by the faith in the Sonne of God, who hath loued me, and giuen him selfe for me.
George Lamsa Translation
I am crucified with Christ: henceforth it is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which now I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Hebrew Names Version
I have been crucified with Messiah, and it is no longer I that live, but Messiah living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
International Standard Version
I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faithfulness of the Son of God,by faith in the Son of God
">[fn] who loved me and gave himself for me.Romans 6:6; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Galatians 1:4; 5:24; 6:14; Ephesians 5:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:10; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 4:2;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
and with the Meshiha am I crucified, and from henceforth I live not, but in me liveth Meshiha; and this that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of Aloha, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Murdock Translation
And henceforth it is no more I who live, but the Messiah liveth in me: and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Good News Translation
so that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.
Christian Standard Bible®
and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
New International Version (1984)
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
King James Version (1611)
I am crucified with Christ. Neuertheles, I liue, yet not I, but Christ liueth in me, and the life which I now liue in the flesh, I liue by the faith of the sonne of God, who loued mee, and gaue himselfe for me.
Amplified Bible
"I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Update Bible Version
and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Literal Translation
I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God, the One loving me and giving Himself over on my behalf.
New American Standard Bible
"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 in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
New Century Version
I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me.
New English Translation
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
New International Version
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
New King James Version
I have been crucified with Christ; 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 in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
World English Bible
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
I am crucified with Christ, and I live no longer, but Christ liveth in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Weymouth's New Testament
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me; and the life which I now live in the body I live through faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up to death on my behalf.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And now lyue not Y, but Crist lyueth in me. But that Y lyue now in fleisch, Y lyue in the feith of Goddis sone, that louede me, and yaf hym silf for me.
New Life Bible
I have been put up on the cross to die with Christ. I no longer live. Christ lives in me. The life I now live in this body, I live by putting my trust in the Son of God. He was the One Who loved me and gave Himself for me.
New Revised Standard
and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I live, now not I: but Christ liveth in me. And that I live now in the flesh: I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and delivered himself for me.
Revised Standard Version
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
I am crucified with Christ. I live verely: yet now not I but Christ liveth in me. For ye lyfe which I now live in ye flesshe I live by the fayth of ye sonne of God which loved me and gave him selne for me.
Young's Literal Translation
with Christ I have been crucified, and live no more do I, and Christ doth live in me; and that which I now live in the flesh -- in the faith I live of the Son of God, who did love me and did give himself for me;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I am crucified with Christ, yet do I lyue: neuerthelesse now not I, but Christ lyueth in me. For ye life which I now lyue in ye flesshe, I lyue in the faith of ye sonne of God which loued me, and gaue himselfe for me.
Mace New Testament (1729)
I am crucified with Christ, it is not I that now live, but Christ that liveth in me; the life I have in this body I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
English Revised Version
I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"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 in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Neuerthelesse, I lyue: yet nowe not I, but Christe lyueth in me. And ye lyfe which I nowe liue in the fleshe, I lyue by the faith of the sonne of God, which loued me, and gaue hym selfe for me.
English Standard Version
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
New Living Translation
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Simplified Cowboy Version
My old life has been nailed to the cross with Jesus. I no longer live, but Christ lives within me. This earthly body only lives by trusting in the man who died to save me.

Contextual Overview

11 But, when Cephas came unto Antioch, to the face, even , him, I resisted, because he stood condemned; 12 For, before that certain came from James, with them of the nations, used he to eat; whereas, when they came, he used to withdraw, and keep himself separate, fearing them of the circumcision; 13 And the rest of the Jews alsoused hypocrisy with him, so that, even Barnabas, was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But, when I saw that they were not walking with straightforwardness as regardeth the truth of the glad-message, I said unto Cephas, before all: If, thou, although, a Jew, like them of the nations, and not like the Jews, dost live, how dost thou compel, them of the nations, to live like Jews? 15 We, by nature Jews, and not sinners from among the nations, 16 Knowing, however, that a man is not declared righteous by works of law, nor at all save through faith in Christ Jesus; even we, on Christ Jesus, believed, that we might be declared righteous - by faith in Christ, and not by works of law; because, by works of law, shall no flesh be declared righteous. 17 Now, if in seeking to be declared righteous in Christ we, ourselves also, were found sinners, - is Christ, therefore, a minister, of sin? Far be it! 18 For, if, the things that I pulled down, these, again, I build, a transgressor, I prove, myself, to be. 19 For, I, through means of law, unto law, died, that, unto God, I might live: - 20 With Christ, have I been crucified; and, living no longer, am, I, but, living in me, is, Christ, - while, so far as I now do live in flesh, by faith, I live - The faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up in my behalf.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

crucified: Galatians 5:24, Galatians 6:14, Romans 6:4-6, Romans 8:3, Romans 8:4, Colossians 2:11-14

nevertheless: Romans 6:8, Romans 6:13, Romans 8:2, Ephesians 2:4, Ephesians 2:5, Colossians 2:13, Colossians 3:3, Colossians 3:4

but: John 14:19, John 14:20, John 17:21, 2 Corinthians 4:10, 2 Corinthians 4:11, 2 Corinthians 13:3, 2 Corinthians 13:5, Ephesians 3:17, Colossians 1:27, 1 Thessalonians 5:10, 1 Peter 4:2, Revelation 3:20

the life: 2 Corinthians 4:11, 2 Corinthians 10:3, 1 Peter 4:1, 1 Peter 4:2

I now: Galatians 2:16, Galatians 3:11, John 6:57, Romans 1:17, Romans 5:2, 2 Corinthians 1:24, 2 Corinthians 5:7, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Philippians 4:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:10, 1 Peter 1:8, 1 Peter 4:2

the Son: John 1:49, John 3:16, John 3:35, John 6:69, John 9:35-38, Acts 8:37, Acts 9:20, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 4:9, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:14, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20

who: Galatians 1:4, Matthew 20:28, John 10:11, John 15:13, Romans 8:37, Ephesians 5:2, Ephesians 5:25, Titus 2:14, Revelation 1:5

Reciprocal: Leviticus 7:5 - General Leviticus 8:31 - eat it Leviticus 9:17 - the meat Deuteronomy 30:20 - thy life Psalms 85:13 - shall set Song of Solomon 2:16 - beloved Song of Solomon 5:2 - my head Song of Solomon 5:16 - my beloved Song of Solomon 7:10 - my Mark 8:34 - take Luke 1:35 - the Son of God John 3:15 - whosoever John 6:54 - eateth John 15:4 - Abide John 17:26 - and I Acts 20:21 - faith Acts 24:24 - the faith Acts 26:18 - faith Romans 6:3 - were Romans 6:6 - that our Romans 6:11 - but Romans 7:4 - ye also Romans 7:6 - serve Romans 14:7 - General 1 Corinthians 1:9 - the fellowship Galatians 2:19 - that Ephesians 2:16 - having Ephesians 3:18 - able Ephesians 3:19 - to know Philippians 1:22 - live Philippians 3:10 - and the fellowship Colossians 2:6 - walk Colossians 2:20 - if Colossians 3:1 - risen Colossians 3:11 - and 2 Timothy 2:11 - For 1 Peter 1:5 - through 1 John 5:12 - that hath the Revelation 1:18 - that liveth

Cross-References

Genesis 2:18
And Yahweh God said, It is, not good, that the man should remain alone, - I will make for him a helper as his counterpart.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I am crucified with Christ,.... Not literally, for so only the two thieves were crucified with him, but mystically; Christ was crucified for him in his room and stead, and so he was crucified with him, and in him, as his head and representative. Christ sustained the persons of all his people, and what he did and suffered was in their name, and on their account, and so they were crucified and suffered with him, as they are said to be buried with him, and to be risen with him, and to sit together in heavenly places in him. Moreover, their old man was crucified with him; when he was crucified, all their sins, the whole body of them, were laid upon him, and he bore them, and bore them away, destroyed and made an end of them; they received their mortal wound by his crucifixion and death, so as never to be able to have any damning power over them; and in consequence of this the affections and lusts are crucified, and the deeds of the body of sin mortified by the Spirit and grace of God, in regeneration and sanctification, so as not to have the dominion over them; the world is crucified to them, and they to the world; and this is another reason proving that justification by Christ is no licentious doctrine. This clause is, in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, put at the end of the preceding verse.

Nevertheless I live; which is to be understood, not of his natural, but of his spiritual life; the life of justification he lived, by faith, on the righteousness of Christ; and the life of sanctification which he had from Christ, by the quickening influences of his Spirit, by virtue of which he walked in newness of life. The believer is a mere paradox, he is dead to the law, and "yet lives" to God; he is crucified with Christ, and yet lives by him; yea, a crucified Christ lives in him.

Yet not I; not the same I as before, but quite another man, a new creature: he did not now live as in his state of unregeneracy, and whilst in Judaism; he was not now Saul the blasphemer, the persecutor, and injurious person; nor did he now live Saul the Pharisee: or the life he had was not of his own obtaining and procuring; his life of righteousness was not of himself, but Christ; his being quickened, or having principles of life and holiness implanted in him, was not by himself, but by the Spirit; and the holy life and conversation he lived was not owing to himself, to his power and strength, but to the grace of God; or it was not properly himself, or so much he that lived,

but Christ liveth in me: who was not only the author and maintainer of his spiritual life, but the life itself; he was formed in his soul, dwelt in his heart, was united to him, was one with him, whence all vital principles and vital actions sprung, and all the communion and comforts of a spiritual life flowed.

And the life which I now live in the flesh; in the body, whilst in this mortal state, whereby he distinguishes that spiritual life he had from Christ, and through Christ's living in him, both from the natural life of his body, and from that eternal life he expected to live in another world; and which, he says,

I live by the faith of the Son of God; meaning, not that faith which Christ, as man, had, but that of which he is the author and object, by which the just man lives; not upon it, for the believer does not live upon any of his graces, no, not upon faith, but by faith on Christ, the object; looking to him for pardon, righteousness, peace, joy, comfort, every supply of grace, and eternal salvation: which object is described as "the Son of God"; who is truly God, equal with his Father; so that he did not live upon a creature, or forsake the fountain of living waters, but upon the only begotten Son of God, who is full of grace and truth: of whom he further says,

who loved me; before the foundation of the world, from everlasting, prior to his love to him; and freely, without any regard to worth or merit, and though he was a blasphemer and a persecutor; and him personally, and particularly, in a distinguishing manner, of which he had a special knowledge and application by the Spirit of God; and was a reason and argument constraining him, and prevailing on him to live to him who loved him, and died for him, or, as he adds,

and gave himself for me; his whole self, his soul and body, as in union with his divine person, into the hands of justice, and unto death, in his room and stead, as an offering and sacrifice for sin, and which he did freely and voluntarily; and is a strong and full proof of his love to him. Now though Christ gave his life a ransom for many, and himself for his whole church, and all the members of his mystical body, yet the apostle speaks of this matter as singularly respecting himself, as if almost he was the only person Christ loved and died for; which shows that faith deals with Christ not in a general way, as the Saviour of the world, but with a special regard to a man's self: this is the life of faith; and these considerations of the person, love, and grace of Christ, animate and encourage faith in its exercises on him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I am crucified with Christ - In the previous verse, Paul had said that he was dead. In this verse he states what he meant by it, and shows that he did not wish to be understood as saying that he was inactive, or that he was literally insensible to the appeals made to him by other beings and objects. In respect to one thing he was dead; to all that was truly great and noble he was alive. To understand the remarkable phrase, “I am crucified with Christ,” we may remark:

(1) That this was the way in which Christ was put to death. He suffered on a cross, and thus became literally dead.

(2) In a sense similar to this, Paul became dead to the Law, to the world, and to sin. The Redeemer by the death of the cross became insensible to all surrounding objects, as the dead always are. He ceased to see, and hear, and was as though they were not. He was laid in the cold grave, and they did not affect or influence him. So Paul says that he became insensible to the Law as a means of justification; to the world; to ambition and the love of money; to the pride and pomp of life, and to the dominion of evil and hateful passions. They lost their power over him; they ceased to influence him.

(3) This was with Christ, or by Christ. It cannot mean literally that he was put to death with him, for that is not true. But it means that the effect of the death of Christ on the cross was to make him dead to these things, in like manner as he, when he died, became insensible to the things of this busy world. This may include the following things:

  1. There was an intimate union between Christ and his people, so that what affected him, affected them; see John 15:5-6.
  2. The death of the Redeemer on the cross involved as a consequence the death of his people to the world and to sin; see Galatians 5:24; Galatians 6:14. It was like a blow at the root of a vine or a tree, which would affect every branch and tendril or like a blow at the head which affects every member of the body.
  3. Paul felt identified with the Lord Jesus; and he was willing to share in all the ignominy and contempt which was connected with the idea of the crucifixion. He was willing to regard himself as one with the Redeemer. If there was disgrace attached to the manner in which he died, he was willing to share it with him. He regarded it as a matter to be greatly desired to be made just like Christ in all things, and even in the manner of his death. This idea he has more fully expressed in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, (that is, I desire earnestly to know him,) and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” see also Colossians 1:24; compare 1 Peter 4:13.

Nevertheless I live - This expression is added, as in Galatians 2:19, to prevent the possibility of mistake. Paul, though he was crucified with Christ, did not wish to be understood that he felt himself to be dead. He was not inactive; not insensible, as the dead are, to the appeals which are made from God, or to the great objects which ought to interest an immortal mind. He was still actively employed, and the more so from the fact that he was crucified with Christ. The object of all such expressions as this is, to show that it was no design of the gospel to make people inactive, or to annihilate their energies. It was not to cause people to do nothing. It was not to paralyze their powers, or stifle their own efforts. Paul, therefore, says, “I am not dead. I am truly alive; and I live a better life than I did before.” Paul was as active after conversion as he was before. Before, he was engaged in persecution; now, he devoted his great talents with as much energy, and with as untiring zeal, to the cause of the great Redeemer. Indeed, the whole narrative would lead us to suppose that he was more active and zealous after his conversion than he was before. The effect of religion is not to make one dead in regard to the putting forth of the energies of the soul. True religion never made one lazy man; it has converted many a man of indolence, and effeminacy and self-indulgence to a man actively engaged in doing good. If a professor of religion is less active in the service at God than he was in the service of the world; less laborious, and zealous. and ardent than he was before his supposed conversion, he ought to set it down as full proof that he is an utter stranger to true religion.

Yet not I - This is also designed to prevent misapprehension. In the previous clause he had said that he lived, or was actively engaged. But lest this should he misunderstood, and it should be inferred that he meant to say it was by his own energy or powers, he guards it, and says it was not at all from himself. It was by no native tendency; no power of his own; nothing that could be traced to himself. He assumed no credit for any zeal which he had shown in the true life. He was disposed to trace it all to another. He had ample proof in his past experience that there was no tendency in himself to a life of true religion, and he therefore traced it all to another.

Christ liveth in me - Christ was the source of all the life that he had. Of course this cannot be taken literally that Christ had a residence in the apostle, but it must mean that his grace resided in him; that his principles actuated him: and that he derived all his energy, and zeal, and life from his grace. The union between the Lord Jesus and the disciple was so close that it might be said the one lived in the other. So the juices of the vine are in each branch, and leaf, and tendril, and live in them and animate them; the vital energy of the brain is in each delicate nerve - no matter how small - that is found in any part of the human frame. Christ was in him as it were the vital principle. All his life and energy were derived from him.

And the life which I now live in the flesh - As I now live on the earth surrounded by the cares and anxieties of this life. I carry the life-giving principles of my religion to all my duties and all my trials.

I live by the faith of the Son of God - By confidence in the Son of God, looking to him for strength, and trusting in his promises, and in his grace. Who loved me, etc. He felt under the highest obligation to him from the fact that he had loved him, and given himself to the death of the cross in his behalf. The conviction of obligation on this account Paul often expresses; see the Romans 6:8-11; Romans 8:35-39 notes; 2 Corinthians 5:15 note. There is no higher sense of obligation than that which is felt toward the Saviour; and Paul felt himself bound, as we should, to live entirely to him who had redeemed him by his blood.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 20. I am crucified with Christ — The death of Christ on the cross has showed me that there is no hope of salvation by the law; I am therefore as truly dead to all expectation of justification by the law, as Christ was dead when he gave up the ghost upon the cross. Through him alone I live - enjoy a present life, and have a prospect of future glory.

Yet not I — It is not of my natural life I speak, nor of any spiritual things which I myself have procured; but Christ liveth in me. God made man to be a habitation of his own Spirit: the law cannot live in me so as to give me a Divine life; it does not animate, but kill; but Christ lives in me; he is the soul of my soul; so that I now live to God. But this life I have by the faith of the Son of God - by believing on Christ as a sacrifice for sin; for he loved me, and because he did so he gave himself for me - made himself a sacrifice unto death, that I might be saved from the bitter pains of death eternal.


 
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