Galatians 5:17 kjv
For 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.
Galatians 5:17 nkjv
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Galatians 5:17 niv
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Galatians 5:17 esv
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Galatians 5:17 nlt
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Galatians 5 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gal 5:16 | Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. | Live by the Spirit |
| Rom 7:23 | but I see in my members another law that opposes my mind and makes me its prisoner to the law of sin that is in my members. | Internal struggle |
| Rom 7:15 | For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. | Inability to do good |
| Rom 8:7 | For the desires of the flesh are hostile to God, for they do not put themselves under God's law, nor can they. | Hostility of flesh to God |
| Gal 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are evident... | Works of the flesh |
| Gal 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace... | Fruit of the Spirit |
| 1 Pet 2:11 | Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. | Flesh wages war against soul |
| John 1:13 | who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. | Born of God |
| Col 3:5 | Put to death therefore what is earthly in your members, in which you do not walk according to the flesh. | Mortify earthly members |
| Col 3:10 | and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. | New self renewed |
| Eph 2:1-3 | And you were dead in the trespasses and sins...doing the will of the flesh and of the mind... | Dead in sin, following flesh |
| Heb 12:1 | let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. | Sin clings closely |
| Rom 13:14 | but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to satisfy its desires. | Put on Christ, no provision for flesh |
| Jas 1:14 | but each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own desire. | Temptation from desire |
| Jas 4:1 | What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not your desires that are at war in your members? | Desires at war |
| Phil 3:2 | Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. | Beware false teachers |
| 1 Cor 6:18-20 | Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. | Flee sexual immorality |
| 1 John 3:8 | Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been plotting from the beginning. | Practice of sin is of devil |
| Gen 6:5 | The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. | Wickedness of man |
| Jer 17:9 | The heart is more deceitful than all else, and is desperately sick; who can understand it? | Deceitful heart |
Galatians 5 verses
Galatians 5 17 Meaning
The verse states that the sinful nature wars against the Spirit, and the Spirit wars against the sinful nature. This opposition is continuous, hindering believers from doing what they wish to do.
Galatians 5 17 Context
In Galatians 5, Paul is contrasting life lived according to the flesh with life lived by the Spirit. He has just listed the "works of the flesh" and the "fruit of the Spirit." Verse 17 serves as an explanation for why believers still struggle with sin even after accepting Christ and receiving the Spirit. The chapter addresses the tension between the old life of bondage to sin and the new life of freedom in Christ. This teaching was particularly relevant in Galatia where some were trying to add requirements of the Law to salvation by faith, suggesting a misunderstanding of the nature of the Christian life and the role of the Spirit.
Galatians 5 17 Word Analysis
- 'Hē de' (ἡ δὲ): "But the" (or "Now the"). This particle marks a transition or contrast. It introduces a new subject or thought, specifically referring back to the preceding discussion of the flesh and the Spirit.
- 'sárx' (σάρξ): "flesh". In Pauline theology, "flesh" doesn't just mean the physical body, but represents the entire fallen human nature, inclined to sin and rebellion against God. It encompasses the desires, intentions, and the entire unredeemed aspect of human existence. It’s the source of sin, operating independently of or in opposition to God’s will.
- 'epithymeí' (ἐπιθυμεῖ): "desires" (present active indicative, 3rd person singular of ἐπιθυμέω - epithymeō). It indicates a longing or craving, often with a strong, sometimes sinful, inclination. In this context, it signifies the persistent desires that originate from the fallen nature.
- 'kata' (κατὰ): "against". A preposition indicating opposition or direct conflict.
- 'pneûma' (πνεῦμα): "Spirit". Refers to the Holy Spirit, the divine person who indwells believers, empowering them for godly living and opposing the works of the flesh. It represents God's active presence and renewing power in the believer's life.
- 'ho de' (ὁ δὲ): "and the" (or "but the"). Similar to 'hē de', this connects the two clauses and highlights the reciprocal opposition.
- 'pneûma' (πνεῦμα): "Spirit".
- 'epithymeí' (ἐπιθυμεῖ): "desires" (present active indicative). The Spirit's "desire" here is not a passionate longing like the flesh, but a consistent, holy inclination and will that directs the believer toward God.
- 'kata' (κατὰ): "against".
- 'sárxa' (σαρκὸς): "flesh" (genitive case). Here, it's "against the flesh," indicating that the Spirit actively opposes and counteracts the flesh's impulses.
- 'hín’ (ἵν’): A contraction of 'híνα' (hina), meaning "that," introducing a result clause.
- 'kaí' (καί): "and" or "that".
- 'poíēte' (ποιῆτε): "you may do" (present subjunctive active, 2nd person plural of ποιέω - poieō). The subjunctive mood indicates possibility or purpose.
- 'hâ' (ἅ): "the things" (neuter plural accusative relative pronoun).
- 'thélete' (θέλητε): "you wish" or "you will" (present subjunctive active, 2nd person plural of θέλω - thelo).
- 'poíēte' (ποιῆτε): "you may do".
- 'taûta' (ταῦτα): "these" (neuter plural accusative demonstrative pronoun). "these things". The result of the conflict is that believers cannot do what they wish to do—implying a constant internal battle where their genuine, Spirit-led desires are thwarted by the flesh.
Group Analysis:
- "the flesh desires against the Spirit": This clause articulates the direct rebellion and opposition of the unredeemed sinful nature towards God's divine influence and will working within the believer.
- "the Spirit desires against the flesh": This second clause presents the equally strong counter-activity of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit actively resists, combats, and seeks to mortally wound the desires and power of the flesh.
- "that you may not do the things that you wish": This outcome clause explains the practical consequence of this ongoing spiritual warfare. Believers, while enabled to live by the Spirit and resist the flesh, find their sincere intentions to do good constantly hampered by the flesh's pervasive influence and attempts to drag them back into sin. It underscores that sanctification is a process, not an instant perfection in this life.
Galatians 5 17 Bonus Section
The Greek word for "flesh" (sárx) is rich in meaning for Paul. It extends beyond physical urges to include the entire realm of humanity alienated from God. It is the seat of fallen desires and motivations. The word for "desires" (epithymeí) implies strong craving or longing, a drive that emanates from within. The term "flesh" here should not be misinterpreted to mean the physical body is inherently evil, as that would contradict the incarnation and resurrection of Christ. Instead, it represents the entire unregenerate nature which, apart from the Spirit, is hostile to God. The verse emphasizes that sanctification is an ongoing process characterized by conflict. The Christian is called to a life of continuous resistance and reliance on the Holy Spirit, not to a state of sinless perfection in this earthly life.
Galatians 5 17 Commentary
This verse captures the essence of the internal spiritual conflict every Christian experiences. It is not a conflict of good versus evil outside of us, but a war within our very being between our unredeemed nature and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul makes it clear that the flesh constantly craves what opposes God’s will, and the Spirit actively resists these desires. This dual presence and opposing will mean that the believer is caught in a perpetual struggle, often unable to perform the good they desire or to completely escape the sinful impulses they detest. It highlights that Christian living is not passive, but an active participation in this spiritual warfare, leaning on the Spirit's power to overcome the flesh’s constant resistance.