Galatians 5:23 kjv
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:23 nkjv
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:23 niv
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:23 esv
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:23 nlt
gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Galatians 5:22 | For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. | Fruit of the Spirit listed |
| Romans 13:10 | Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. | Love fulfills the law |
| Romans 8:4 | so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. | Fulfilling law by the Spirit |
| 1 John 4:8 | Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. | God is love |
| Matthew 5:9 | "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." | Blessed are peacemakers |
| Ephesians 4:32 | Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. | Kindness and forgiveness |
| Philippians 4:7 | And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. | Peace of God |
| Colossians 3:12 | Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. | Virtues to be put on |
| 1 Timothy 1:9 | understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, | Law for the lawless |
| 1 Timothy 1:10 | for the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, | Sins contrary to sound doctrine |
| 1 Peter 4:8 | Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. | Love covers sins |
| 2 Peter 1:5-7 | Besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly affection, and to brotherly affection, love. | Add virtues to faith |
| Hebrews 13:1 | Let brotherly love continue. | Brotherly love continues |
| John 15:12 | "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." | Love one another |
| Proverbs 3:3 | Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. | Love and faithfulness |
| Proverbs 25:28 | A man without self-control is like a city broken into, without walls. | Danger of lack of self-control |
| James 3:17 | But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. | Wisdom from above |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:21 | Test everything; hold fast what is good. | Hold fast what is good |
| Galatians 5:23 | but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. | Fruit of the Spirit summary |
| Galatians 6:2 | Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. | Fulfill law of Christ |
| Galatians 5:14 | For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” | Love neighbor as self |
Galatians 5 verses
Galatians 5 23 Meaning
This verse highlights that there is no law against such qualities. It underscores that virtues like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are not prohibited by any established law. Instead, they align with God's perfect will and are the fruits of the Spirit, reflecting a life lived in accordance with divine principles.
Galatians 5 23 Context
Galatians 5:23 is the concluding part of Paul's discourse on the fruit of the Spirit. The preceding verse (5:22) lists the nine virtues that characterize a life led by the Spirit. Chapter 5 of Galatians contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit, urging believers to walk by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh. Paul is writing to the Galatian churches, who were being influenced by Judaizers demanding adherence to the Mosaic Law for salvation. Paul's argument is that true righteousness and spiritual growth come through faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, not through legalistic observance. The verse serves to emphasize that the qualities produced by the Spirit are inherently good and in perfect harmony with God's moral law.
Galatians 5 23 Word Analysis
- οὐκ ἔστιν (ouk estin) - "there is not" or "it is not". This is a strong negation.
- νόμος (nomos) - "law". This refers to any kind of law, particularly relevant in this context is the Mosaic Law and God's moral law.
- κατ’ (kat') - a preposition meaning "against" or "according to". Here, it indicates opposition.
- αὐτῶν (autōn) - "of them". Refers back to the fruit of the Spirit listed in verse 22.
Words-group analysis:
- "οὐκ ἔστιν νόμος κατ’ αὐτῶν" (ouk estin nomos kat' autōn) - This phrase literally translates to "there is no law against them." This signifies that these virtues are not transgressions of any divine or righteous legal standard. They are not acts that any legitimate law would condemn. The implication is that these fruits are in complete accordance with the spirit and intent of God's law, particularly the commandment to love God and neighbor.
Galatians 5 23 Bonus Section
The expression "there is no law against them" (οὐκ ἔστιν νόμος κατ’ αὐτῶν) is significant in the polemic context of Galatians. The Judaizers insisted that obedience to specific laws of the Old Testament, particularly circumcision and dietary laws, was necessary for salvation and for remaining in right relationship with God. Paul counters that the true "law" that governs a Christian life is the law of love, empowered and embodied by the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit, as a cohesive unit, is the fulfillment of this higher, spiritual law. It demonstrates that spiritual maturity is not achieved by external regulations but by an internal transformation producing godly character. This passage teaches that these virtues are the normative state of a Spirit-filled believer and are intrinsically aligned with divine order and justice, making any condemnation of them fundamentally invalid.
Galatians 5 23 Commentary
This verse serves as a powerful affirmation that the characteristics produced by the Holy Spirit within a believer are not only permissible but are the very essence of true righteousness. The presence of these virtues is a sign that one is living in alignment with God's will. They do not break or oppose divine statutes; rather, they embody them. This stands in stark contrast to the "works of the flesh" mentioned earlier in the chapter, which are indeed contrary to God's law. The verse encourages believers to cultivate these fruits, as they are the evidence of genuine spiritual transformation and a life lived under the Spirit's guidance.
Practical usage: When believers exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, they are acting in perfect accordance with God's perfect will and law. They are living lives that God blesses and endorses.