Early Church Fathers Scripture Index : Texts

Galatians 2:21

There are 10 footnotes for this reference.

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 3, page 461, footnote 1 (Image)

Augustine: On the Holy Trinity, Doctrinal Treatises, Moral Treatises

Moral Treatises of St. Augustin (HTML)

On Lying. (HTML)

Section 8 (HTML)
CCEL Footnote 2311 (In-Text, Margin)

8. For this reason, from the books of the New Testament, except the figurative pre-significations used by our Lord, if thou consider the life and manners of the Saints, their actions and sayings, nothing of the kind can be produced which should provoke to imitation of lying. For the simulation of Peter and Barnabas is not only recorded, but also reproved and corrected.[Galatians 2:12-21] For it was not, as some suppose, out of the same simulation that even Paul the Apostle either circumcised Timothy, or himself celebrated certain ceremonies according to the Jewish rite; but he did so, out of that liberty of his mind whereby he preached that neither are the Gentiles the better for circumcision, ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 104, footnote 17 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter. (HTML)

Righteousness is the Gift of God. (HTML)

CCEL Footnote 973 (In-Text, Margin)

Let no man therefore boast of that which he seems to possess, as if he had not received it; nor let him think that he has received it merely because the external letter of the law has been either exhibited to him to read, or sounded in his ear for him to hear. For “if righteousness is by the law, then Christ has died in vain.”[Galatians 2:21] Seeing, however, that if He has not died in vain, He has ascended up on high, and has led captivity captive, and has given gifts to men, it follows that whosoever has, has from this source. But whosoever denies that he has from Him, either has not, or is in great danger of being deprived of what he has. “For it is one God which ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 122, footnote 2 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Treatise on Nature and Grace. (HTML)

The Occasion of Publishing This Work; What God’s Righteousness is. (HTML)

CCEL Footnote 1128 (In-Text, Margin)

... spoken of here, he immediately afterwards explains by adding: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” This righteousness of God, therefore, lies not in the commandment of the law, which excites fear, but in the aid afforded by the grace of Christ, to which alone the fear of the law, as of a schoolmaster, usefully conducts. Now, the man who understands this understands why he is a Christian. For “If righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”[Galatians 2:21] If, however He did not die in vain, in Him only is the ungodly man justified, and to him, on believing in Him who justifies the ungodly, faith is reckoned for righteousness. For all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 122, footnote 10 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Treatise on Nature and Grace. (HTML)

Faith in Christ Not Necessary to Salvation, If a Man Without It Can Lead a Righteous Life. (HTML)

CCEL Footnote 1136 (In-Text, Margin)

... it had either not heard that all this was to take place, or has not yet learnt that it was accomplished—but believe in God who made heaven and earth, by whom also it perceived by nature that it had been itself created, and lead a right life, and thus accomplish His will, uninstructed with any faith in the death and resurrection of Christ? Well, if this could have been done, or can still be done, then for my part I have to say what the apostle said in regard to the law: “Then Christ died in vain.”[Galatians 2:21] For if he said this about the law, which only the nation of the Jews received, how much more justly may it be said of the law of nature, which the whole human race has received, “If righteousness come by nature, then Christ died in vain.” If, ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 124, footnote 3 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Treatise on Nature and Grace. (HTML)

He Could Not Be Justified, Who Had Not Heard of the Name of Christ; Rendering the Cross of Christ of None Effect. (HTML)

CCEL Footnote 1151 (In-Text, Margin)

... am not speaking of the case of an infant. I take the instance of a young man, or an old man, who has died in a region where he could not hear of the name of Christ. Well, could such a man have become righteous by nature and free will; or could he not? If they contend that he could, then see what it is to render the cross of Christ of none effect, to contend that any man without it, can be justified by the law of nature and the power of his will. We may here also say, then is Christ dead in vain[Galatians 2:21] forasmuch as all might accomplish so much as this, even if He had never died; and if they should be unrighteous, they would be so because they wished to be, not because they were unable to be righteous. But even though a man could not be justified ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 137, footnote 7 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Treatise on Nature and Grace. (HTML)

For What Pelagius Thought that Christ is Necessary to Us. (HTML)

CCEL Footnote 1246 (In-Text, Margin)

... free will and natural law? This is that wisdom of word, whereby “the cross of Christ is rendered of none effect.” He, however, who said, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,” since that cross cannot be made of none effect, in very deed overthrows that wisdom by the foolishness of preaching whereby believers are healed. For if natural capacity, by help of free will, is in itself sufficient both for discovering how one ought to live, and also for leading a holy life, then “Christ died in vain,”[Galatians 2:21] and therefore also “the offence of the cross is ceased.” Why also may I not myself exclaim?—nay, I will exclaim, and chide them with a Christian’s sorrow,—“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by nature; ye are ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 192, footnote 3 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Work on the Proceedings of Pelagius. (HTML)

The Same Continued. Pelagius Acknowledges the Doctrine of Grace in Deceptive Terms. (HTML)

CCEL Footnote 1657 (In-Text, Margin)

... teaching. Now this is the grace whereby we hope that we can be delivered from the body of this death through our Lord Jesus Christ, [VII.] and for the obtaining of which we pray that we may not be led into temptation. This grace is not nature, but that which renders assistance to frail and corrupted nature. This grace is not the knowledge of the law, but is that of which the apostle says: “I will not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”[Galatians 2:21] Therefore it is not “the letter that killeth, but the life-giving spirit.” For the knowledge of the law, without the grace of the Spirit, produces all kinds of concupiscence in man; for, as the apostle says, “I had not known sin but by the law: I ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 421, footnote 1 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians. (HTML)

Book IV (HTML)

Of the Praise of the Law. (HTML)
CCEL Footnote 2793 (In-Text, Margin)

... to the letter which killeth, but according to the Spirit which maketh alive, to which grace of God the law, as it were a schoolmaster, leads by deterring from transgression, that so that might be conferred upon man which it could not itself confer. For to those words of theirs in which they say “that the law was able to confer eternal life on the prophets and patriarchs, and all saints who kept its commandments,” the apostle replies, “If righteousness be by the law, then has Christ died in vain.”[Galatians 2:21] “If the inheritance be by the law, then is it no more of promise.” “If they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect.” “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident: for, ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 5, page 454, footnote 4 (Image)

Augustine: Anti-Pelagian Writings

A Treatise on Grace and Free Will. (HTML)

Abstract. (HTML)

As The Law is Not, So Neither is Our Nature Itself that Grace by Which We are Christians. (HTML)
CCEL Footnote 3090 (In-Text, Margin)

... grace which the apostle commends to us through the faith of Jesus Christ. For it is certain that we possess this nature in common with ungodly men and unbelievers; whereas the grace which comes through the faith of Jesus Christ belongs only to them to whom the faith itself appertains. “For all men have not faith.” Now, as the apostle, with perfect truth, says to those who by wishing to be justified by the law have fallen from grace, “If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain;”[Galatians 2:21] so likewise, to those who think that the grace which he commends and faith in Christ receives, is nature, the same language is with the same degree of truth applicable: if righteousness come from nature, then Christ is dead in vain. But the law was ...

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 1, Volume 6, page 504, footnote 3 (Image)

Augustine: Sermon on the Mount, Harmony of the Gospels, Homilies on the Gospels

Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament. (HTML)

On the words of the Gospel, John vi. 53, ‘Except ye eat the flesh,’ etc., and on the words of the apostles. And the Psalms. Against the Pelagians. (HTML)

CCEL Footnote 3943 (In-Text, Margin)

... forced exceedingly to bewail our brethren, who strive not against hidden, but against open and manifested grace. There is allowance for the Jews. What shall we say of Christians? Wherefore are ye enemies to the grace of Christ? Why rely ye on yourselves? Why unthankful? For why did Christ come? Was not nature here before? Was not nature here, which ye only deceive by your excessive praise? Was not the Law here? But the Apostle says, “If righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain.”[Galatians 2:21] What the Apostle says of the Law, that say we of nature to these men. “If righteousness come by nature, then Christ is dead in vain.”

Online Dictionary & Commentary of Early Church Beliefs