Galatians 5 20

Galatians 5:20 kjv

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

Galatians 5:20 nkjv

idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

Galatians 5:20 niv

idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions

Galatians 5:20 esv

idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

Galatians 5:20 nlt

idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,

Galatians 5 verses

Galatians 5 20 meaning

Galatians 5:20 lists nine specific manifestations of the "works of the flesh" which stand in stark contrast to walking by the Spirit. These vices represent fundamental distortions of human relationships with God, others, and self, arising from a nature not yielded to divine transformation. They range from explicit anti-God practices like idolatry and sorcery to relational dysfunctions such as enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, rivalries, dissensions, and divisions, all of which dismantle unity and disrupt the community. Paul highlights these as behaviors incompatible with a life in Christ, preventing those who habitually practice them from inheriting the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5 20 Context

Galatians chapter 5 focuses on the Christian's freedom in Christ, contrasting life "by the Spirit" with life "of the flesh." Paul urges believers to stand firm in their freedom, not allowing it to become a license for sin (Gal 5:13), but rather to serve one another through love. This immediately sets up the internal conflict believers face: "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please" (Gal 5:17). Following this, Paul lists the "works of the flesh" (Gal 5:19-21) and contrasts them with the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal 5:22-23). Galatians 5:20 is an integral part of this list, highlighting specific behaviors and attitudes that emanate from the fallen human nature and oppose the Spirit's influence.

Historically and culturally, the Galatian churches existed within a Greco-Roman society rife with pagan religious practices and social unrest. "Idolatry" was the dominant religious landscape, often involving temples, sacrifices, and ritual prostitution. "Sorcery" was common, used for healing, curses, or seeking forbidden knowledge, often intertwined with superstitious beliefs and demonic influences. The social environment was prone to "enmities," "strife," "rivalries," and "dissensions" due to class distinctions, philosophical schools, ethnic tensions, and the general competitive nature of urban life. Paul’s enumeration directly confronts both the prevalent pagan vices and the divisive tendencies that could undermine the nascent Christian community's unity and witness. His polemic is against these destructive behaviors that challenge the very core of Christ's teaching on love and unity.

Galatians 5 20 Word analysis

• Idolatry (Greek: εἰδωλολατρία - eidololatria):

  • Meaning: Worship of idols; devotion to anything other than God.
  • Significance: In the OT, a direct violation of the first two commandments. In the NT, it can extend beyond physical idols to include anything that takes God's place in one's life, such as covetousness (Col 3:5), materialism, or even self-worship. It signifies misplaced ultimate allegiance.

• Sorcery (Greek: φαρμακεία - pharmakeia):

  • Meaning: The practice of magic, divination, or occult arts, often involving drugs, potions, or incantations.
  • Significance: Literally relates to drugs (pharmakon). It denotes attempts to manipulate spiritual forces through forbidden means, appealing to powers other than God. It was a prevalent practice in the pagan world, considered abominable by God as it implicitly denies His sovereignty and often connects to demonic activity (Rev 9:21).

• Enmities (Greek: ἔχθραι - echthrai):

  • Meaning: Acts of hostility; deep-seated hatred or ill-will towards others.
  • Significance: These are direct expressions of active hatred, the opposite of the love commanded by Christ (Gal 5:14). It points to an atmosphere where conflict and antagonism are cultivated.

• Strife (Greek: ἔρις - eris):

  • Meaning: Quarrelling, contention, discord, wrangling.
  • Significance: Often arises from disagreements escalating into heated disputes. It breaks down peace and communal harmony, frequently fueled by pride or differing opinions leading to aggressive verbal confrontation.

• Jealousy (Greek: ζῆλος - zelos):

  • Meaning: Envy; passionate, often destructive, rivalry arising from a desire for what someone else has.
  • Significance: This is an unhealthy, resentful coveting of another's possessions, status, or success, leading to bitterness and division (Jas 3:16). It can also manifest as intense zeal, but here it's clearly negative.

• Outbursts of anger (Greek: θυμοί - thymoi):

  • Meaning: Impassioned, uncontrolled displays of rage or fury.
  • Significance: Refers to sudden, violent outbursts of temper that dominate reason and control, often harming others emotionally or physically. These are reactive and destructive.

• Rivalries (Greek: ἐριθεῖαι - eritheiai):

  • Meaning: Selfish ambition; factious intriguing; partisanship.
  • Significance: Describes a self-serving desire to promote oneself or one's group, often at the expense of others or truth. It leads to the formation of factions based on personal gain or agenda rather than principle (Phil 1:17).

• Dissensions (Greek: διχοστασίαι - dichostasiai):

  • Meaning: Standing apart; divisions or disagreements that lead to open strife.
  • Significance: These are the actions or positions that cause disunity, creating schisms within a group or community, often a consequence of unresolved strife and rivalries.

• Divisions (Greek: αἱρέσεις - haireseis):

  • Meaning: Heresies; factions or parties holding dissenting opinions, leading to distinct sectarian groups.
  • Significance: A deeper form of division than dichostasiai, often stemming from deviations in doctrine or core beliefs, forming independent groups or schools of thought. In the context of the early church, it signified doctrinal errors leading to sectarian splits.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Idolatry, sorcery": These two open the list as explicit violations of humanity's relationship with God, involving forbidden worship and the manipulation of spiritual forces outside of divine will. They are foundational sins that undermine allegiance to the one true God.
• "Enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions": This extensive grouping highlights relational sins, progressively moving from inner hostile attitudes (enmities, jealousy) to outward expressions (strife, outbursts of anger), culminating in organized breaking of unity (rivalries, dissensions, divisions). These all represent the fracturing of human community and love, which is antithetical to the body of Christ. They reveal a focus on self and a disregard for others and for peace.

Galatians 5 20 Bonus section

The progressive nature of the relational sins in this verse is noteworthy. Often, an inward hostile thought (enmities, jealousy) can fester, leading to outward arguments (strife, outbursts of anger), and eventually mature into systematic efforts to create factions or even sectarian splits (rivalries, dissensions, divisions). This highlights the need for vigilance against the flesh's impulses at their earliest stages, nurturing the Fruit of the Spirit as an active counter. Paul emphasizes that those who practice such things (the present participle implying a habitual lifestyle, not occasional slips) will not inherit the kingdom of God, underlining the seriousness of a life dominated by these behaviors. This list serves not merely as prohibitions, but as diagnostic tools for self-examination, guiding believers to surrender these aspects of their fleshly nature to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5 20 Commentary

Galatians 5:20 offers a profound glimpse into the sinful impulses that hinder a life transformed by the Holy Spirit. Paul lists these "works of the flesh" not as isolated acts, but as symptoms of a pervasive anti-God and anti-neighbor spirit. The inclusion of idolatry and sorcery grounds the list in spiritual rebellion, indicating that turning away from God is the root of human brokenness. Idolatry can be overt worship of false gods, or subtly manifest as ultimate devotion to money, power, pleasure, or self, anything that displaces God from the supreme position. Sorcery signifies attempts to control reality through means outside of God, inviting darker influences.

The remainder of the list details destructive interpersonal dynamics. Enmities, strife, and outbursts of anger tear apart peace and breed conflict. Jealousy and rivalries stem from self-centeredness, where one's own desires, status, or gain are prioritized over love for others. Dissensions and divisions are the cumulative results, the visible fragmentation of community, arising from persistent selfishness and unwillingness to reconcile. This verse strongly communicates that true freedom in Christ is not an absence of restraint but a transformation that allows believers to walk in unity and love, manifesting the fruit of the Spirit instead of these harmful expressions of the flesh. Practicing these works signals an unregenerate heart and alienates one from God's kingdom.

Examples:

• Idolatry: A relentless pursuit of career success to the exclusion of family, faith, and ethical considerations.
• Sorcery: Seeking guidance from astrology, psychics, or magic rather than trusting in God's word and guidance through prayer.
• Enmities, strife, dissensions, divisions: Constant bickering, taking sides in arguments within a church or family, or actively undermining leadership due to personal grudges rather than biblical truth.