Galatians 2:15-16

Galatians 2:15-16

[15] who are Jews  by nature,  and  not  sinners  of  the Gentiles,  [16] Knowing  that  a man  not  justified  by  the works  of the law,  by  the faith  of Jesus  Christ,  even  have believed  in  Jesus  Christ,  that  we might be justified  by  the faith  of Christ,  and  not  by  the works  of the law:  by  the works  of the law  no  flesh  be justified. 

What does Galatians 2:15-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Some interpreters believe Paul"s words to Peter continue through the end of chapter2 (e.g, NASB, NIV, NKJV). [1] Others believe they end with Galatians 2:14 (e.g, RSV, NRSV, NET). It seems more likely to me that they end with Galatians 2:14.
"This verse 15] and the next form a single, overloaded sentence in the Greek; they have been aptly described as "Paul"s doctrine of justification in a nutshell" ..." [2]
Unsaved Jews regarded Gentiles as "sinners." Paul ironically referred to them as that since Peter was discriminating against them by behaving as he had.
"This characterization at once focuses attention on the sharp distinction between Jew and Gentile, for what made the Gentiles sinners in the estimation of the Jews was not only that they did not observe the law but also that they did not even possess it and consequently lacked the possibility of obtaining righteousness through it." [3]
Paul went on to remind Peter that both of them knew that God does not justify people (declare them righteous) because they keep the Mosaic Law, part of which involved dietary regulations.
". . . Paul"s recital of his address to Peter in Antioch is progressively colored by polemic against his Galatian detractors and, as it were, gradually shades into a theological discussion with his readers." [4]
". . . Paul intends by the phrase "works of the law" the Jewish way of life, described in Galatians 2:14 by the word iodaikos [5], characterized by exclusiveness and epitomized by the murder of Christ and the persecution of his followers, and argues that to return to that way of life would be to make Christ a servant of sin." [6]
Justification comes by believing in Christ, period (cf. Acts 16:31). Paul, Peter, and the other believers assembled had simply believed in Christ (cf. Job 9:1-2). Paul stated as a maxim that obedience to the Law never justified anybody ( Romans 3:20). [7]
"This [8] is one of the most important verses in the Epistle....
"The threefold repetition of the doctrine of justification by faith in this one verse is important, because it shows the importance the apostle gives to the doctrine. Besides, the three phrases increase in emphasis." [9]
"Justification should not be confused with forgiveness, which is the fruit of justification, nor with atonement, which is the basis of justification. Rather it is the favorable verdict of God, the righteous Judges , that one who formerly stood condemned has now been granted a new status at the bar of divine justice." [10]
"To be justified means to be declared righteous before God, that Isaiah , to enjoy a status or standing of being in a right relationship with God, of being accepted by him." [3]
In Galatians 2:15-21 Paul was evidently answering charges that his critics had leveled against him. It would be easier for us to interpret these verses if we knew what those charges were. As it is we can only infer what they were from Paul"s answers.