Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. [kjv]
ουκ αθετω την χαριν του θεου ει γαρ δια νομου δικαιοσυνη αρα χριστος δωρεαν απεθανεν [gnt]
non abicio gratiam … legem iustitia … gratis mortuus … [v]
The Greek word translated as
"vain" is that of
"free gift". Saying:
do not look a gift horse in the mouth.
The ancient Greek word
"δωρεάν" ≈ "free gift"and is the source, through the Greek and later Latin name, of the English name
"Dorothy" as, literally, "
gift" of "
God". The Latin word
"gratis" ≈ "free gift" and is the source of the English words
"gratuity",
"gratitude", etc. It is unclear how the
KJV (King James Version) decided to translate the word as
"vain".