Galatians — Chapter 5

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1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

8This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

10I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

11And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

12I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

1For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.

3Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.

5For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.

7Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?

8This persuasion [came] not of him that calleth you.

9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

10I have confidence to you-ward in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

11But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away.

12I would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision.

13For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only [use] not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.

14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.

18But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,

21envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.

24And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.

25If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.

26Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.

1For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.

2Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all!

3And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

4You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace!

5For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness.

6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight—the only thing that matters is faith working through love.

7You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth?

8This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you!

9A little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise!

10I am confident in the Lord that you will accept no other view. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.

11Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.

12I wish those agitators would go so far as to castrate themselves!

13For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.

14For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”

15However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.

16But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.

17For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.

18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity,

20idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions,

21envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.

26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.

1Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

2Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.

3Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.

5For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.

7You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?

8This persuasion is not from him who calls you.

9A little yeast grows through the whole lump.

10I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.

11But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.

12I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.

13For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

15But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.

16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,

20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,

21envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

25If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

26Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

"Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" — Paul warns that circumcision obligates one to keep the whole Law, lists the works of the flesh against the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace...), and declares those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh.

Authorship & Background

Author: Paul (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 5 is the practical turning point of Galatians. Having established the theological argument for justification by faith (chs. 1-4), Paul now addresses the practical question: If we are free from the Law, how should we live? His answer: Walk in the Spirit. This chapter contains two of the most famous passages in all of Paul's letters — the works of the flesh (vv.19-21) and the fruit of the Spirit (vv.22-23).
Stand Fast in Liberty (vv.1-12): Paul opens with a ringing declaration of freedom: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" (v.1). He warns that accepting circumcision as necessary for salvation means accepting the entire Law — and falling from grace (v.4). The only thing that counts is "faith which worketh by love" (v.6).
Liberty, Not License (vv.13-15): Freedom is not an excuse for sin. True liberty expresses itself in love: "By love serve one another" (v.13). The entire Law is fulfilled in one command: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (v.14).
Walk in the Spirit (vv.16-26): The flesh and Spirit are at war (v.17). Paul lists the works of the flesh — 15 sins covering sexual immorality, idolatry, relational conflict, and excess (vv.19-21). Then the fruit of the Spirit — 9 qualities that describe the character of Christ (vv.22-23). Those who belong to Christ "have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (v.24).

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik provides detailed analysis of Christian liberty, the flesh vs. Spirit conflict, the works of the flesh, and the fruit of the Spirit.
  • Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "The Fruit of the Spirit" on vv.22-23 (MTP Vol. 27, No. 1582) "The fruit of the Spirit — not fruits, but fruit. One cluster with nine grapes. You cannot have love without joy, or peace without gentleness. They come together as one harvest of the Spirit's work. And notice — it is fruit, not works. Works you manufacture; fruit grows naturally from the life within." Sermon: "Stand Fast" on v.1 (MTP Vol. 14, No. 1089) "Stand fast! Not 'sit down and be comfortable.' Not 'lie down and sleep.' Stand fast — on your feet, alert, holding your ground. The liberty Christ purchased is under constant attack. Legalists on one side, libertines on the other. Stand fast in the middle — free from both bondage and license."

Videos

The Bible Project — Galatians Overview

Animated overview of the book's literary structure, themes, and theological message. Excellent visual introduction. (Approx. 8 minutes)

Reflection

  • 1. "Stand fast in the liberty" (v.1). What threatens your freedom in Christ? Legalism (adding rules to the gospel)? License (using freedom as an excuse for sin)? How do you "stand fast" against both?
  • 2. "Faith which worketh by love" (v.6). Is your faith active and loving, or passive and self-focused? How does your faith express itself in love toward others this week?
  • 3. "By love serve one another" (v.13). Freedom's purpose is not self- indulgence but loving service. Who can you serve this week? How does serving others actually increase your sense of freedom?
  • 4. "Walk in the Spirit" (v.16). This is the key to the Christian life. What does "walking in the Spirit" look like practically for you? How do you cultivate sensitivity to the Spirit's leading?
  • 5. Review the works of the flesh (vv.19-21) honestly. Which ones are you most susceptible to? Not just the obvious ones — variance (quarreling), wrath, strife, envyings are on the same list as adultery and idolatry.
  • 6. Review the fruit of the Spirit (vv.22-23). Which ones are most evident in your life? Which ones are least developed? Remember — you don't manufacture fruit. You abide in the vine (John 15) and fruit grows naturally.