The Meaning of Galatians 5:4 Explained

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.

YLT: ye were freed from the Christ, ye who in law are declared righteous; from the grace ye fell away;

Darby: Ye are deprived of all profit from the Christ as separated from him, as many as are justified by law; ye have fallen from grace.

ASV: Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Christ  is become of no effect unto you,  whosoever of you  are justified  by  the law;  ye are fallen from  grace. 

What does Galatians 5:4 Mean?

Study Notes

no effect
grace
no effect i.e. of no experimental effect: the sense of liberty is lost. Galatians 2:21 ; Colossians 1:23 .
grace Grace (in salvation). Ephesians 1:6 ; Ephesians 1:7 ; Romans 3:24 . , See Scofield " John 1:17 ".
grace
The test of the Gospel is grace. If the message excludes grace, or mingles law with grace as the means of either of justification or sanctification Galatians 2:21 ; Galatians 3:1-3 or denies the fact or guilt of sin which alone gives grace its occasion and opportunity, it is "another" gospel, and the preacher of it is under the anathema of God Galatians 1:8 ; Galatians 1:9 .
grace
no effect i.e. of no experimental effect: the sense of liberty is lost. Galatians 2:21 ; Colossians 1:23 .
grace Grace (in salvation). Ephesians 1:6 ; Ephesians 1:7 ; Romans 3:24 . , See Scofield " John 1:17 ".
The test of the Gospel is grace. If the message excludes grace, or mingles law with grace as the means of either of justification or sanctification Galatians 2:21 ; Galatians 3:1-3 or denies the fact or guilt of sin which alone gives grace its occasion and opportunity, it is "another" gospel, and the preacher of it is under the anathema of God Galatians 1:8 ; Galatians 1:9 .
no effect i.e. of no experimental effect: the sense of liberty is lost. Galatians 2:21 ; Colossians 1:23 .
grace Grace (in salvation). Ephesians 1:6 ; Ephesians 1:7 ; Romans 3:24 . , See Scofield " John 1:17 ".
grace
The test of the Gospel is grace. If the message excludes grace, or mingles law with grace as the means of either of justification or sanctification Galatians 2:21 ; Galatians 3:1-3 or denies the fact or guilt of sin which alone gives grace its occasion and opportunity, it is "another" gospel, and the preacher of it is under the anathema of God Galatians 1:8 ; Galatians 1:9 .

Context Summary

Galatians 5:1-12 - Hold Fast Your Freedom
We are free. The Son has made us free, and we are free indeed, though not free to disobey the dictates and promptings of our new nature. We are set free from minute prescriptions, from priestly rules and requisitions, from all that would cramp and hinder our spiritual development; but we are still under the law of Christ, who will see to it that the essential righteousness of the Mosaic law is fulfilled in us, "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit," Romans 8:1.
If the Mosaic law is kept as a means of salvation, we must fulfill it all, Galatians 5:3. For himself, as "we" suggests, Galatians 5:5, Paul had an assured confidence that his hope could not be disappointed. Christ is ever calling us upward, Galatians 5:8. Be on guard against the ferment of false teaching, Galatians 5:9. The Apostle shows the absurdity of supposing that he was in favor of circumcision, since, if that were the case, the long persecution of his life would cease, Galatians 5:11. These verses were in Bunyan's mind when he depicted Mr. Worldly Wiseman, of the town of Carnal Policy, as endeavoring to turn Christian out of the Way of the Cross to the house of Mr. Legality. [source]

Chapter Summary: Galatians 5

1  He wills them to stand in their liberty,
3  and not to observe circumcision;
13  but rather love, which is the sum of the law
19  He lists the works of the flesh,
22  and the fruits of the Spirit,
25  and exhorts to walk in the Spirit

Greek Commentary for Galatians 5:4

Ye are severed from Christ [κατηργητητε απο Χριστου]
First aorist passive of καταργεω — katargeō to make null and void as in Romans 7:2, Romans 7:6. [source]
Who would be justified by the law [οιτινες εν νομωι δικαιουστε]
Present passive conative indicative, “ye who are trying to be justified in the law.” Ye are fallen away from grace (της χαριτος εχεπεσατε — tēs charitos exepesate). Second aorist active indicative of εκπιπτω — ekpiptō (with α — a variable vowel of the first aorist) and followed by the ablative case. “Ye did fall out of grace,” “ye left the sphere of grace in Christ and took your stand in the sphere of law” as your hope of salvation. Paul does not mince words and carries the logic to the end of the course. He is not, of course, speaking of occasional sins, but he has in mind a far more serious matter, that of substituting law for Christ as the agent in salvation. [source]
Ye are fallen away from grace [της χαριτος εχεπεσατε]
Second aorist active indicative of εκπιπτω — ekpiptō (with α — a variable vowel of the first aorist) and followed by the ablative case. “Ye did fall out of grace,” “ye left the sphere of grace in Christ and took your stand in the sphere of law” as your hope of salvation. Paul does not mince words and carries the logic to the end of the course. He is not, of course, speaking of occasional sins, but he has in mind a far more serious matter, that of substituting law for Christ as the agent in salvation. [source]
Christ is become of no effect unto you [κατηργήθητε ἀπὸ Χριστοῦ]
Incorrect. Lit. ye were brought to nought from Christ. Comp. Romans 7:2, Romans 7:6. Your union with Christ is dissolved. The statement is compressed and requires to be filled out. “Ye were brought to nought and so separated from Christ.” For similar instances see Romans 9:3; Romans 11:3. The ἀπὸ fromproperly belongs to the supplied verb of separation. For the verb καταργεῖν see on Romans 3:3. [source]
Ye are fallen from grace [τῆς χἁριτος ἐξεπέσατε]
For a similar phrase see 2 Peter 3:17. Having put yourselves under the economy of salvation by law, you have fallen out of the economy of salvation by the grace of Christ. Paul's declarations are aimed at the Judaisers, who taught that the Christian economy was to be joined with the legal. His point is that the two are mutually exclusive. Comp. Romans 4:4, Romans 4:5, Romans 4:14, Romans 4:16. The verb ἐκπίπτειν tofall out, in the literal sense, Acts 12:7; James 1:11. In Class. of seamen thrown ashore, banishment, deprivation of an office, degeneration, of actors being hissed off the stage. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Galatians 5:4

Romans 5:2 Into this grace []
Grace is conceived as a field into which we are brought. Compare Galatians 1:6; Galatians 5:4; 1 Peter 5:12. The; state of justification which is preeminently a matter of grace. [source]
1 Corinthians 7:28 Thou hast not sinned [ουχ ημαρτες]
Second aorist active indicative of αμαρτανω — hamartanō to sin, to miss a mark. Here either Paul uses the timeless (gnomic) aorist indicative or by a swift transition he changes the standpoint (proleptic) in the conclusion from the future (in the condition) to the past. Such mixed conditions are common (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1020, 1023). Precisely the same construction occurs with the case of the virgin Emphatic position of τλιπσιν — thlipsin (pressure). See note on 2 Corinthians 12:7 σκολοπς τηι σαρκι — skolops tēi sarki (thorn in the flesh). And I would spare you Possibly conative present middle indicative, I am trying to spare you like αγει — agei in Romans 2:4 and δικαιουστε — dikaiousthe in Galatians 5:4. [source]
1 Corinthians 7:28 And I would spare you [εγω δε υμων πειδομαι]
Possibly conative present middle indicative, I am trying to spare you like αγει — agei in Romans 2:4 and δικαιουστε — dikaiousthe in Galatians 5:4. [source]
Galatians 5:11 Ceased [κατήργηται]
Lit. been done away or brought to nought. See on Galatians 5:4. If Paul had preached circumcision as necessary to salvation, the preaching of the cross would have ceased to be an offense, because, along with the cross, Paul would have preached what the Judaisers demanded, that the Mosaic law should still be binding on Christians. The Judaisers would have accepted the cross with circumcision, but not the cross instead of circumcision. The Judaisers thus exposed themselves to no persecution in accepting Christ. They covered the offense of the cross, and conciliated unbelieving Jews by maintaining that the law was binding upon Christians. See Galatians 6:12. [source]
Galatians 2:16 Justified [δικαιοῦται]
See on Romans 3:20, Romans 3:26. The meaning to declare or pronounce righteous cannot be consistently carried through Paul's writings in the interest of a theological fiction of imputed righteousness. See, for example, Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 6:11; and all passages where the word is used to describe justification by works of the law, as here, Galatians 3:11; Galatians 5:4. If one is a real righteousness, founded upon his conformity to the law. Why is the righteousness of faith any less a real righteousness? [source]
Galatians 1:6 Unto a different gospel [εις ετερον ευαγγελιον]
See note on 2 Corinthians 11:4 for distinction between allo and heteron as here. It is not here or there a mere difference in emphasis or spirit as in Philemon 1:18 so long as Christ is preached. These men as in 2 Corinthians 11:4 preach “another Jesus” and a “different gospel” and so have fallen away from grace and have done away with Christ (Galatians 5:4). Hence the vehemence of Paul‘s words. [source]
Galatians 4:17 To shut you out [εκκλεισαι υμας]
From Christ as he will show (Galatians 5:4). That ye may seek them (ινα αυτους ζηλουτε — hina autous zēloute). Probably present active indicative with ινα — hina as in πυσιουστε — phusiousthe (1 Corinthians 4:6) and γινωσκομεν — ginōskomen (1 John 5:20). The contraction οητε — ̇oēte would be ωτε — ̇ōte not ουτε — ̇oute (Robertson, Grammar, p. 325). [source]
Hebrews 6:4 As touching those who were once enlightened [τους απαχ πωτιστεντας]
First aorist passive articular participle (the once for all enlightened) of ποτιζω — photizō old and common verb (from πως — phōs) as in Luke 11:36. The metaphorical sense here (cf. John 1:9; Ephesians 1:18; Hebrews 10:32) occurs in Polybius and Epictetus. The accusative case is due to ανακαινιζειν — anakainizein in Hebrews 6:6. απαχ — Hapax here is “once for all,” not once upon a time Tasted of the heavenly gift First aorist middle participle of γευω — geuō old verb once with accusative (Hebrews 6:5, καλον ρημα δυναμεις — kalon rēma class="normal greek">μετοχους πνευματος αγιου — dunameis), usually with genitive (Hebrews 2:9) as here. Partakers of the Holy Ghost (μετοχοι — metochous pneumatos hagiou). See Hebrews 3:14 for και παραπεσοντας — metochoi These are all given as actual spiritual experiences. And then fell away (παραπιπτω — kai parapesontas). No “then” here, though the second aorist (effective) active participle of της χαριτος εχεπεσατε — parapiptō old verb to fall beside (aside), means that. Only here in N.T. In Galatians 5:4 we have tēs charitos exepesate (ye fell out of grace, to law, Paul means). [source]
Hebrews 6:4 Tasted of the heavenly gift [γευσαμενους της δωρεας της επουρανιου]
First aorist middle participle of γευω — geuō old verb once with accusative (Hebrews 6:5, καλον ρημα δυναμεις — kalon rēma class="normal greek">μετοχους πνευματος αγιου — dunameis), usually with genitive (Hebrews 2:9) as here. Partakers of the Holy Ghost (μετοχοι — metochous pneumatos hagiou). See Hebrews 3:14 for και παραπεσοντας — metochoi These are all given as actual spiritual experiences. And then fell away (παραπιπτω — kai parapesontas). No “then” here, though the second aorist (effective) active participle of της χαριτος εχεπεσατε — parapiptō old verb to fall beside (aside), means that. Only here in N.T. In Galatians 5:4 we have tēs charitos exepesate (ye fell out of grace, to law, Paul means). [source]
2 Peter 3:17 Fall from [ἐκπέσητε]
Lit., “fall out of.” Compare Galatians 5:4. [source]
2 Peter 3:17 Beware [πυλασσεστε]
Present middle imperative of πυλασσω — phulassō common verb, to guard.Lest (ινα μη — hina mē). Negative purpose, “that not.”Being carried away First aorist passive participle of συναπαγω — sunapagō old verb double compound, to carry away together with, in N.T. only here and Galatians 2:13.With the error (τηι πλανηι — tēi planēi). Instrumental case, “by the error” (the wandering).Of the wicked See note on 2 Peter 2:7.Ye fall from (εκπεσητε — ekpesēte). Second aorist active subjunctive with ινα μη — hina mē of εκπιπτω — ekpiptō old verb, to fall out of, with the ablative here (στηριγμου — stērigmou steadfastness, late word from στηριζω — stērizō here alone in N.T.) as in Galatians 5:4 (της χαριτος εχεπεσατε — tēs charitos exepesate ye fell out of grace). [source]
2 Peter 3:17 Being carried away [συναπαχτεντες]
First aorist passive participle of συναπαγω — sunapagō old verb double compound, to carry away together with, in N.T. only here and Galatians 2:13.With the error (τηι πλανηι — tēi planēi). Instrumental case, “by the error” (the wandering).Of the wicked See note on 2 Peter 2:7.Ye fall from (εκπεσητε — ekpesēte). Second aorist active subjunctive with ινα μη — hina mē of εκπιπτω — ekpiptō old verb, to fall out of, with the ablative here (στηριγμου — stērigmou steadfastness, late word from στηριζω — stērizō here alone in N.T.) as in Galatians 5:4 (της χαριτος εχεπεσατε — tēs charitos exepesate ye fell out of grace). [source]
2 Peter 3:17 Of the wicked [των ατεσμων]
See note on 2 Peter 2:7.Ye fall from (εκπεσητε — ekpesēte). Second aorist active subjunctive with ινα μη — hina mē of εκπιπτω — ekpiptō old verb, to fall out of, with the ablative here (στηριγμου — stērigmou steadfastness, late word from στηριζω — stērizō here alone in N.T.) as in Galatians 5:4 (της χαριτος εχεπεσατε — tēs charitos exepesate ye fell out of grace). [source]
2 Peter 3:17 Ye fall from [εκπεσητε]
Second aorist active subjunctive with ινα μη — hina mē of εκπιπτω — ekpiptō old verb, to fall out of, with the ablative here (στηριγμου — stērigmou steadfastness, late word from στηριζω — stērizō here alone in N.T.) as in Galatians 5:4 (της χαριτος εχεπεσατε — tēs charitos exepesate ye fell out of grace). [source]

What do the individual words in Galatians 5:4 mean?

You are severed from Christ whoever in [the] Law are being justified from grace you have fallen away
κατηργήθητε ἀπὸ Χριστοῦ οἵτινες ἐν νόμῳ δικαιοῦσθε τῆς χάριτος ἐξεπέσατε

κατηργήθητε  You  are  severed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: καταργέω  
Sense: to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative.
Χριστοῦ  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
οἵτινες  whoever 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ὅστις  
Sense: whoever, whatever, who.
νόμῳ  [the]  Law 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: νόμος  
Sense: anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command.
δικαιοῦσθε  are  being  justified 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: δικαιόω  
Sense: to render righteous or such he ought to be.
χάριτος  grace 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: χάρις  
Sense: grace.
ἐξεπέσατε  you  have  fallen  away 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἐκπίπτω  
Sense: to fall out of, to fall down from, to fall off.