Galatians 5:4

Authorized King James Version

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

Original Language Analysis

κατηργήθητε G2673
κατηργήθητε
Strong's: G2673
Word #: 1 of 11
to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively
ἀπὸ is become of no effect unto you G575
ἀπὸ is become of no effect unto you
Strong's: G575
Word #: 2 of 11
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τοῦ G3588
τοῦ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 3 of 11
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Χριστοῦ Christ G5547
Χριστοῦ Christ
Strong's: G5547
Word #: 4 of 11
anointed, i.e., the messiah, an epithet of jesus
οἵτινες whosoever of you G3748
οἵτινες whosoever of you
Strong's: G3748
Word #: 5 of 11
which some, i.e., any that; also (definite) which same
ἐν by G1722
ἐν by
Strong's: G1722
Word #: 6 of 11
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc
νόμῳ the law G3551
νόμῳ the law
Strong's: G3551
Word #: 7 of 11
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat
δικαιοῦσθε are justified G1344
δικαιοῦσθε are justified
Strong's: G1344
Word #: 8 of 11
to render (i.e., show or regard as) just or innocent
τῆς G3588
τῆς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 9 of 11
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
χάριτος grace G5485
χάριτος grace
Strong's: G5485
Word #: 10 of 11
graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart
ἐξεπέσατε ye are fallen from G1601
ἐξεπέσατε ye are fallen from
Strong's: G1601
Word #: 11 of 11
to drop away; specially, be driven out of one's course; figuratively, to lose, become inefficient

Analysis & Commentary

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Paul states devastating consequence. "Christ is become of no effect unto you" (katērgēthēte apo Christou, κατηργήθητε ἀπὸ Χριστοῦ)—literally "you are severed from Christ, rendered inoperative regarding Christ." Katargeō means to nullify, make void, sever. "Whosoever of you are justified by the law" (hoitines en nomō dikaiousthe)—whoever seeks righteousness through law-keeping.

"Ye are fallen from grace" (tēs charitos exepesate, τῆς χάριτος ἐξεπέσατε)—you fell out of grace, dropped from grace-sphere. This doesn't mean losing salvation but never truly embracing it. Grace and law are mutually exclusive operating systems (Romans 11:6). To choose law-righteousness is to reject grace-righteousness. You can't have both. "Fallen from grace" doesn't mean sinning but abandoning grace as the principle of relationship with God, replacing it with works. This is the ultimate fall—from divine favor freely given to human effort doomed to fail.

Historical Context

Arminians cite this verse for losing salvation; Calvinists argue it describes professed believers who never truly believed. Either way, Paul's point stands: law and grace can't coexist as grounds for righteousness. The Judaizers thought adding law to faith strengthened their position; Paul shows it destroys it entirely. This echoes Jesus's teaching about new wine and old wineskins (Luke 5:36-39)—mixing systems ruins both. The Galatians faced choice: grace alone or not grace at all. Hybrid religion is impossible.

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