What is the specific translation of "δωρεὰν" ("dorean") in Gal 2:21? Did righteousness used to come by the law?

Question

In Galatians 2:21 it reads:

"εἰ γὰρ διὰ νόμου δικαιοσύνη, ἄρα Χριστὸς δωρεὰν ἀπέθανεν"

Some translations are:

 Latin Vulgate: "si enim per legem iustitia ergo Christus **gratis** mortuus est"
 KJV: "for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
 NIV: "for if righteousness could  be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing"

However the word by word translation would be: "For if the righteousness [comes] through the law, then Christ has died as a gift." The word "dorean" has normal meaning "gift" and it is derived from a word which is "to give", and thus "dorea" means a gift. Does it mean that salvation would be achieved through law also, without the Gospel?

Answer 1

When it comes to translated words, it doesn’t always follow that derivative words must absolutely hold to the root word of the translated language.

• δωρεαν - gratuitously

Derived from

• δωρεά - gift

Derived from

• δῶρον - gift made sacrificially, offering

The adverb in English gratuitously is defined as

being without apparent reason, cause, or justification

So if we exchange the Greek word δωρεαν for this definition in the verse in question we get

“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died (δωρεαν - without apparent reason, cause, or justification) for no purpose.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2:21‬ ‭

To answer the underlying question by the OP

”Does it mean that salvation would be achieved through law also, without the Gospel?”

Firstly I would substitute gospel there with grace.

Not a chance! For righteousness belongs to God and it must be imputed to the created,(especially sinful, helpless, mortal men).

“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭64:6‬ ‭

For righteousness that can be acceptable to God must be of God. God is pure, His righteousness is likewise pure

“I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭36:3‬ ‭

The whole book of Job circles around this almost fatal mistake of Job, who failed to ascribe God’s righteousness to God but assumed it to himself and it cost him dearly

“So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he (Job) was righteous in his own eyes.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭32:1‬ ‭

If the law could have saved Job, then God would not have dragged blameless and upright Job through the crucible, but precisely because Job was blameless and upright according to the Law but NOT righteous, did God in His LOVING kindness exposed Job to the filthiness of self righteousness and it’s deceiving saving illusion. The Law is not what saves a man, FAITH in what God has to offer saves sinful, helpless, mortal men.

Answer 2

Obviously there is no specific translation which is why there are several options rendered.

The word is used for water flowing freely with no restraint Rev 21:6, 22:17. Water flowing without producing anything is pointless - it should do some work to make the flow useful. If Christ died for no reason, then it has produced nothing, no gain.

They hated me for no reason/ without a cause John 15:25

You mentioned gift - a gift is given with no strings attached - it too is given freely.

If Christ died freely/without reason, with no strings attached - like the saving of all humanity, then it was pointless.

We know that his death did produce something - of untold significance, for it relates to earth AND heaven!

...through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Col 1:20

Answer 3

It is translated rightly in the versions here as "in vain" and "for nothing". The point in Gal 2:21 is that if righteousness still comes from the law then Christ died in vain. It is a deductive argument like 3:3 or 3:21, since they received the spirit by faith apart from the law, therefore it proves that righteousness does not and cannot come by the law anymore; see ouketi οὐκέτι no longer 3:18, 3:25, 4:7. God now justifies by faith without the works of the law, for nothing with respect to the law. The law has been rendered invalid as the promise covenant has arrived, its purpose as a discipliner tutor has been fulfilled. Of course justification was by the law, otherwise God would be a deceiver and an abomination for lying. May it never be. See my question on the translation error of all Bible versions (except NLT and Godbey) on Galatians 3:21 which wrongly translates "if a law had been given", when the text says: if (the) given law can give life, then righteousness would be by the law. There is no indefinite "a law" and past perfect "had been" in the text, it is an interpolation of the translators likely copying vulgate instead of translating. Commentary, not translation.

From BDAG3 entry of the word:

δωρεάν acc. of δωρεά used as adv. (since Hdt. 5, 23 [δωρεήν]; ins, pap, LXX; PsSol 7:1; TestSol; Joseph.).

① pert. to being freely given, as a gift, without payment, gratis (so, in addition to the ref. in Nägeli 35f and Poland 496 note **, GDI 2569, 4 [Delphi]; PSI 400, 16; 543, 19 al. [both III b.c.]; 1401, 8; PTebt 5, 187; 250 [both II b.c.]; Gen 29:15; Ex 21:11 δωρεὰν ἄνευ ἀργυρίου al.; Tat. 19, 1) δ. λαμβάνειν (Jos., Vi. 425), διδόναι (Bell. 1, 274, Vi. 38) receive or give without payment Mt 10:8 (cp. Sextus 242; of an emissary who paid his own traveling expenses IPriene 108, 165); cp. Rv 21:6; 22:17; δ. εὐαγγελίσασθαι 2 Cor 11:7. δικαιούμενοι δ. justified, made upright, as a gift Ro 3:24. οὐδὲ δ. ἄρτον ἐφάγομεν παρά τινος we have not eaten bread with (or from) anyone without paying for it 2 Th 3:8.

② pert. to being without contributory fault, undeservedly, without reason/cause ἐμίσησάν με δ. they hated me without reason J 15:25 (Ps 34:19; 68:5; PsSol 7:1; cp. Ps 118:161; 1 Km 19:5).

③ pert. to being without purpose, in vain, to no purpose (Job 1:9; Ps 34:7) δ. ἀποθνῄσκειν Gal 2:21; ITr 10.—DELG s.v. δίδωμι. M-M. s.v. δωρεά. TW.