I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
All Commentaries on Galatians 2:20 Go To Galatians 2
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Yet I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me.
In these words, I am crucified with Christ, he alludes to Baptism and in the words nevertheless I live, yet not I, our subsequent manner of life whereby our members are mortified. By saying Christ lives in me, he means nothing is done by me, which Christ disapproves; for as by death he signifies not what is commonly understood, but a death to sin; so by life, he signifies a delivery from sin. For a man cannot live to God, otherwise than by dying to sin; and as Christ suffered bodily death, so does Paul a death to sin. Mortify, says he, your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion; Colossians 3:5, and again, our old man was crucified, Romans 6:6 which took place in the Bath. After which, if you remain dead to sin, you live to God, but if you let it live again, you are the ruin of your new life. This however did not Paul, but continued wholly dead; if then, he says, I live to God a life other than that in the Law, and am dead to the Law, I cannot possibly keep any part of the Law. Consider how perfect was his walk, and you will be transported with admiration of this blessed soul. He says not, I live, but, Christ lives in me; who is bold enough to utter such words? Paul indeed, who had harnessed himself to Christ's yoke, and cast away all worldly things, and was paying universal obedience to His will, says not, I live to Christ, but what is far higher, Christ lives in me. As sin, when it has the mastery, is itself the vital principle, and leads the soul whither it will, so, when it is slain and the will of Christ obeyed, this life is no longer earthly, but Christ lives, that is, works, has mastery within us. His saying, I am crucified with Him I no longer live, but am dead, seeming incredible to many,
