The Letters · New Testament
Galatians 5
Galatians 5: liberty, the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit
General context
Paul tells the readers to stand fast in the liberty Christ gave and not take up a yoke of bondage again, then says in his own name that if they are circumcised, Christ will profit them nothing. Anyone circumcised is a debtor to keep the whole law, and those seeking justification by the law have fallen from grace, while through the Spirit they wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. In Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts, only faith which works by love. He asks who hindered a race they ran well, says the persuasion did not come from the one who called them, and warns that a little leaven leavens the lump. He expects them not to change their minds, says whoever troubles them will bear his judgment, asks why he would still be persecuted if he preached circumcision, and wishes the troublers cut off. Liberty must not become an occasion to the flesh; they should serve one another by love, since the whole law is fulfilled in the command to love your neighbour as yourself, and biting and devouring will consume them. He then sets two ways of living against each other. Walking in the Spirit prevents the lust of the flesh, since flesh and Spirit are contrary. The works of the flesh are listed openly, seventeen of them, warning that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Against them stands the fruit of the Spirit in nine terms, ending with meekness and temperance, and a remark that no law stands against these. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh, he says, and living in the Spirit should be matched by walking in it.
Cited passages: Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:2, Galatians 5:3, Galatians 5:4, Galatians 5:5, Galatians 5:6, Galatians 5:7, Galatians 5:8, Galatians 5:9, Galatians 5:10, Galatians 5:11, Galatians 5:12, Galatians 5:13, Galatians 5:14, Galatians 5:15, Galatians 5:16, Galatians 5:17, Galatians 5:19, Galatians 5:20, Galatians 5:21, Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:23, Galatians 5:24, Galatians 5:25, Galatians 5:26
Galatians 5 (KJV)
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.
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Historical context
The chapter quotes one commandment, introduced as the one word in which all the law is fulfilled, and prints it as Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Leviticus 19:18 prints the same words as the second half of a longer sentence that begins Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people. The letter names no book for it. The person causing the trouble is referred to in the singular and left deliberately open, he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be, and no name is given anywhere in the chapter except Paul's own, where he signs the warning as Behold, I Paul say unto you. Verse 11 implies that someone has said Paul still preaches circumcision, but the charge is only visible in his question about it. The wish at verse 12 about those who trouble them is stated harshly and is not explained further.
Cited passages: Galatians 5:2, Galatians 5:10, Galatians 5:11, Galatians 5:12, Galatians 5:14, Leviticus 19:18
Literary context
The chapter changes gear from argument to instruction, and it moves in short bursts. A proverb does the work of a paragraph, A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump, and a running image supplies the reproach, Ye did run well. The signature at verse 2 puts Paul's own name in the middle of the sentence, which happens nowhere else in the chapter. The centre of the writing is a pair of lists that are deliberately unmatched. The first is called works, plural, and runs to seventeen items ending in and such like, as if it could go on. The second is called fruit, singular, and names nine qualities, closed off with a flat remark that no law opposes them. The chapter also keeps returning to what liberty is not, so freedom is defined twice by what it must not become.
Cited passages: Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:2, Galatians 5:7, Galatians 5:9, Galatians 5:13, Galatians 5:19, Galatians 5:20, Galatians 5:21, Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:23, Galatians 5:25
Key moments
- Stand fast in liberty (Galatians 5:1). Paul opens the section with a warning against a returning yoke.
- Behold, I Paul say unto you (Galatians 5:2). He signs the warning about circumcision with his own name.
- Ye did run well (Galatians 5:7). He asks who interrupted a course they had begun well.
- Love thy neighbour (Galatians 5:14). The whole law is said to be fulfilled in one quoted command.
- The works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19). A long list of behaviours is set out as manifest.
- The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Nine qualities are named as a single fruit.
For reflection
Paul warns that liberty can become an occasion to the flesh, and answers it with serving one another by love. Where have you used freedom from one obligation to avoid a person rather than to help one?
