Galatians 5

Freedom of the Christian

1 For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm,  * 5:1 Rm 14:4; Php 1:27 then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.  * 4:21–5:1 Gl 4:222 Take note! I, Paul, am telling you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to do the entire law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.  * 5:4 2Pt 3:185 For we eagerly await  * 5:5 Jd 21 through the Spirit, by faith, the hope  * 5:5 Rm 8:23–25; 1Th 1:3 of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith  * 5:6 1Th 1:3 working through love.  * 5:6 1Co 13:1; Jms 2:18–22

7 You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth?  * 5:7 Jn 8:14; 1Jn 5:208 This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.  * 5:8 Col 3:15; 1Pt 1:159 A little leaven  * 5:9 Or yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10 I myself am persuaded in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.  * 5:10 Mk 12:4011 Now brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross  * 5:11 Lk 9:23 has been abolished. 12 I wish those who are disturbing you might also let themselves be mutilated!

13 For you were called  * 5:13 Col 3:15 to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity  * 5:13 Lit a pretext; a military term for abuse of position for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled  * 5:14 Mt 1:22 in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.* 5:14 Lv 19:18,* 5:14 Lv 19:18; Mt 7:12; 19:19; 22:37–40; Jn 13:3415 But if you bite and devour  * 5:15 Gl 5:20; Php 3:2,20 one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

The Spirit versus the Flesh

16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit  * 5:16 Rm 8:4; 1Tm 3:16; 2Pt 1:4; 2:10 and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires  * 5:17 1Pt 2:11 what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.  * 5:17 Rm 7:15,23; Php 2:1318 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious:  * 5:19 Other mss add adultery, sexual immorality,  * 5:19 Mk 7:21; 1Th 4:3 moral impurity,  * 5:19 1Th 4:7 promiscuity,  * 5:19 Mk 7:2220 idolatry,  * 5:20 Col 3:5; 1Pt 4:3 sorcery,  * 5:20 Rv 18:23 hatreds,  * 5:20 Rm 8:7 strife,  * 5:20 Ti 3:9 jealousy,  * 5:20 Jms 3:4 outbursts of anger,  * 5:20 Rv 14:19 selfish ambitions,  * 5:20 Rm 2:8 dissensions,  * 5:20 Rm 16:17 factions,  * 5:20 2Pt 2:121 envy,  * 5:21 Other mss add murders,,* 5:21 Rm 1:29 drunkenness, carousing,  * 5:21 Rm 13:13; 1Pt 4:3 and anything similar. I am warning you about these things — as I warned you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  * 5:21 1Co 6:10; 15:50

22 But the fruit of the Spirit  * 5:22 Mt 7:16–20; Rm 6:21; 7:4; 8:5; Eph 5:9 is love,  * 5:22 1Co 13:1; Phm 5 joy,  * 5:22 Jn 15:11; 2Co 6:10 peace, patience,  * 5:22 Ex 34:6; 2Tm 3:10 kindness,  * 5:22 Ps 25:6; 2Co 6:6 goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness,  * 5:23 Jms 3:13 and self-control.  * 5:23 2Pt 1:6 The law is not against such things.  * 5:23 Or Against such things there is no law24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus  * 5:24 Nm 3:12 have crucified the flesh  * 5:24 Rm 8:12 with its passions and desires.  * 5:24 2Pt 1:4; 2:1025 If we live  * 5:25 Php 1:21; 3:16 by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.  * 5:26 Php 2:3