King James Bible
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Paul establishes the core gospel principle that right standing with God comes through faith in Christ, not through observing the Mosaic law. This was revolutionary for Jewish believers who had been taught that Torah observance was the path to righteousness. Paul includes himself and other Jewish Christians ('we') to emphasize that even those born under the law must rely on faith for justification. The repetition underscores the complete sufficiency of Christ's faithfulness as the basis for salvation. This negative restatement reinforces the contrast between human effort and divine grace. Paul is addressing the Judaizers in Galatia who insisted Gentile converts must follow Jewish law to be truly saved. The universal scope ('no flesh') makes Paul's argument absolute—not a single person can achieve righteousness through law-keeping. This echoes Psalm 143:2 and serves as the theological foundation for salvation by grace alone.