We start here rather than with Romans, simply to reserve the most complete presentation of Paul's teaching until last. Galatians' concern with justification more than righteousness is reflected in the predominance of the verb (8 times) over the noun (4 times) and the adjective (once). Although the issue initially is that of conditions of table-fellowship, ‘full communion’, Paul rapidly goes to the heart of the matter, acceptability with God. Every instance of the root is theologically charged, and as the argument is continuous and well-knit, we take the cases seriatim.

CHAPTER 2.15–21

The verb occurs 4 times, thrice in v. 16, once in v. 17. The noun occurs once, v. 21. Twice in v. 16 Paul declares that man is not justified by works of the Law, and the verb plainly has its usual declaratory force. One is justified by faith in Jesus Christ; this is not just faith as a general entity, but that specific faith which is man's response to God's grace in Christ. This is confirmed by ‘even as we have believed in Christ Jesus’. The message of acceptance or acquittal that is undeserved, and to which man responds as the grace of God in Christ, is clearly and simply proclaimed in v. 16 as a whole. It is not clear whether Paul is thinking of a justification at the Judgment, or here and now, or even in the past, but this is not relevant to the argument anyway. The point at issue is the basis of acceptability, not the time of reckoning.