Galatians 5:6 kjv
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Galatians 5:6 nkjv
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Galatians 5:6 niv
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Galatians 5:6 esv
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Galatians 5:6 nlt
For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
Galatians 5 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Galatians 5:2 | ...if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will be of no avail to you. | Justification by faith |
| Romans 2:25-29 | Circumcision indeed is of no avail, but rather not breaking the law... | Inner transformation valued |
| 1 Corinthians 7:19 | For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but obeying the commandments of God. | Obedience is key |
| 1 Corinthians 13:2 | And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge. | Faith without love is nothing |
| 1 Corinthians 13:3 | If I give away all I have... but have not love, I gain nothing. | Love's paramount importance |
| Galatians 5:13 | ...through love serve one another. | Love as service |
| Galatians 5:14 | For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." | Love fulfills the law |
| Galatians 6:15 | For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of anyM/v, but a new creation is of someM/v. | New creation as ultimate |
| Colossians 3:11 | ...Christ is all, and in all. | Christ encompassing all |
| John 13:35 | By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. | Love as a sign of discipleship |
| Romans 13:8 | Owe no one anything, except to love each other... | Love as perpetual debt |
| Ephesians 2:8-9 | For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works... | Salvation by grace through faith |
| Philippians 3:3 | ...we who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh... | No confidence in flesh |
| Matthew 22:37-39 | And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." | Greatest commandments |
| 1 Peter 1:22 | Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart. | Sincere love from pure heart |
| 2 Thessalonians 1:3 | ...your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of each of you for one another increases. | Faith and love increasing |
| 1 John 4:7 | Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God... | Love originates from God |
| 1 John 4:16 | So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. | God is love, abiding in love |
| 1 John 4:20-21 | If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. | Loving God and brother |
| Hebrews 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please God... | Faith pleases God |
| Romans 3:28 | For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. | Justification by faith alone |
| Romans 4:1-5 | ...Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. | Abraham's faith |
Galatians 5 verses
Galatians 5 6 Meaning
In Christ Jesus, neither the rite of circumcision nor the uncircumcised state matters. What is truly valuable and effective is faith made active through love. This faith, expressed in love, is what authentically pleases God and defines one's standing with Him, not outward ritualistic practices or their absence.
Galatians 5 6 Context
Galatians 5:6 is situated within a larger argument Paul is making to the churches in Galatia. False teachers had infiltrated these congregations, insisting that Gentile believers must be circumcised and adhere to the Mosaic Law to be truly saved. Paul is passionately refuting this legalistic view, emphasizing that salvation comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ, not through works of the law. In chapter 5, Paul contrasts the freedom believers have in Christ with the bondage of trying to keep the law. He then transitions to describing the outward manifestation of this inner freedom, which is love. Verse 6 is a pivotal statement that defines the true nature of Christian standing and vitality.
Galatians 5 6 Word Analysis
ἔν Xριστῷ Ἰησοῦ (en Christo Iesou): "in Christ Jesus." This phrase signifies a deep, spiritual union and vital relationship with Christ. Believers are "in Christ" through faith, meaning His life, death, and resurrection are reckoned to them, and they are united to Him as His body. It's not just belief about Jesus, but a profound in-dwelling and positional standing. This union is the basis for all Christian privilege and power.
οὔτε (oute): "neither." A negative conjunction introducing the first element of a negation, matched by a subsequent "nor" or a continuation of the negative idea.
περιτομὴ (peritomē): "circumcision." Refers to the physical rite of circumcision, an ancient covenant sign established with Abraham. In the context of Galatians, it represents the Old Covenant requirements and any attempt to justify oneself through adherence to the Law, including ritualistic practices. It is presented as a ritual signifying something on the outside.
οὔτε (oute): "nor." Continues the negation, introducing the second element.
ἀκροβυστία (akrobystia): "uncircumcision." Literally "foreskin." It signifies the absence of the rite of circumcision. Paul uses it here to equate both the presence and absence of the ritual; neither matters in Christ. It represents the Gentile status and, by extension, anything external that sets people apart or defines them religiously without inner transformation.
δὲ (de): "but." A strong adversative conjunction, introducing a contrast.
ἀλλὰ (alla): "but." An even stronger adversative, emphasizing the positive reality over the negative (what doesn't matter).
δι’ ἀγάπης (di’ agapēs): "through love" or "by means of love." This points to love as the active principle, the essential characteristic, and the power through which faith operates effectively. Love isn't an alternative to faith, but the authentic outflow and evidence of true faith in Christ. It's the vehicle and motivation for faith's actions.
ἐνεργουμένη (energoumenē): "working," "effectual," "energized," "active." A present passive participle of the verb energeō, which means to work, to be active, to produce a result. It highlights that faith is not a passive intellectual assent but a dynamic force that actively produces change and bears fruit, powered by the Holy Spirit and expressed in love.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "neither circumcision nor uncircumcision": This pairing emphasizes the parity of external rituals in God's sight. Whether one has undergone the ritual of circumcision (associated with Jewish identity and the Law) or not (associated with Gentile identity), these outward markers are irrelevant for one's standing before God in Christ. The crucial aspect is internal.
- "faith working through love": This is the core statement of what matters. It connects faith and love not as separate entities but as inextricably linked in practice. Faith initiates and sustains the relationship with God, while love is the visible, active expression of that faith. Love is not a condition for faith's efficacy, but the result and demonstration of genuine faith. Faith itself is empowered (energized) by and demonstrated in love.
Galatians 5 6 Bonus Section
This verse serves as a bridge from theological argument to practical outworking of the Gospel. It clearly articulates that the core of Christian existence is not adherence to a code, but a transformed life driven by faith and expressed in love. The term "energoumenē" is crucial, suggesting an inherent dynamic quality of faith, empowered by the very life and Spirit of Christ. This active, love-driven faith is what genuine conversion looks like, producing the fruits of the Spirit described later in the chapter, and is the essence of the "new creation" mentioned in Galatians 6:15.
Galatians 5 6 Commentary
The Apostle Paul is decisively cutting through the arguments of the Judaizers. He states unequivocally that in the new reality of being "in Christ Jesus," the ancient marks of ethnic and covenantal identity (circumcision for Jews, uncircumcision for Gentiles) have lost all salvific or defining significance. What truly counts, what possesses divine power and proves effective in pleasing God, is faith that is actively working—and that active work is channeled, expressed, and demonstrated through love. This means true Christianity is not about religious observance or cultural identity; it is about a living, active faith that flows out in love for God and neighbor, empowered by the Spirit. It's a faith that doesn't just believe in Christ but is energized by Christ, making us new creations.