Galatians5
New Living Translation
1So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
2Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you.
3I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses.
4For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.
5But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.
6For 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.
7You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?
8It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom.
9This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!
10I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.
11Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended.
12I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.
13For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
14For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
15But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
16So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
17The 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.
18But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
20idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
21envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
25Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
26Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Galatians 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: An earnest exhortation to stand fast in the liberty of the gospel. (1–12). To take heed of indulging a sinful temper. (13–15). And to walk in the Spirit, and not to fulfil the lusts of the flesh: the works of both are described. (16–26).
vv1-6
Christ will not be the Saviour of any who will not own and rely upon him as their only Saviour. Let us take heed to the warnings and persuasions of the apostle to stedfastness in the doctrine and liberty of the gospel. All true Christians, being taught by the Holy Spirit, wait for eternal life, the reward of righteousness, and the object of their hope, as the gift of God by faith in Christ; and not for the sake of their own works. The Jewish convert might observe the ceremonies or assert his liberty, the Gentile might disregard them or might attend to them, provided he did not depend upon them. No outward privileges or profession will avail to acceptance with God, without sincere faith in our Lord Jesus. True faith is a working grace; it works by love to God, and to our brethren. May we be of the number of those who, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. The danger of old was not in things of no consequence in themselves, as many forms and observances now are. But without faith working by love, all else is worthless, and compared with it other things are of small value.
vv7-12
The life of a Christian is a race, wherein he must run, and hold on, if he would obtain the prize. It is not enough that we profess Christianity, but we must run well, by living up to that profession. Many who set out fairly in religion, are hindered in their progress, or turn out of the way. It concerns those who begin to turn out of the way, or to tire in it, seriously to inquire what hinders them. The opinion or persuasion, verse 8, was, no doubt, that of mixing the works of the law with faith in Christ in justification. The apostle leaves them to judge whence it must arise, but sufficiently shows that it could be owing to none but Satan. It is dangerous for Christian churches to encourage those who follow, but especially who spread, destructive errors. And in reproving sin and error, we should always distinguish between the leaders and the led. The Jews were offended, because Christ was preached as the only salvation for sinners. If Paul and others would have admitted that the observance of the law of Moses was to be joined with faith in Christ, as necessary to salvation, then believers might have avoided many of the sufferings they underwent. The first beginnings of such leaven should be opposed. And assuredly those who persist in disturbing the church of Christ must bear their judgment.
vv13-15
The gospel is a doctrine according to godliness, 1Ti 6:3, and is so far from giving the least countenance to sin, that it lays us under the strongest obligation to avoid and subdue it. The apostle urges that all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. If Christians, who should help one another, and rejoice one another, quarrel, what can be expected but that the God of love should deny his grace, that the Spirit of love should depart, and the evil spirit, who seeks their destruction, should prevail? Happy would it be, if Christians, instead of biting and devouring one another on account of different opinions, would set themselves against sin in themselves, and in the places where they live.
Key Words
ἐλευθερία (eleuthería): freedom (legitimate or licentious, chiefly moral or ceremonial)
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
ἐλευθερόω (eleutheróō): to liberate, i.e. (figuratively) to exempt (from moral, ceremonial or mortal liability)
ἡμᾶς (hēmâs): us
στήκω (stḗkō): to be stationary, i.e. (figuratively) to persevere
οὖν (oûn): (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
μή (mḗ): (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 (οὐ) expects an affirmative one)) whether
ἐνέχω (enéchō): to hold in or upon, i.e. ensnare; by implication, to keep a grudge
πάλιν (pálin): (adverbially) anew, i.e. (of place) back, (of time) once more, or (conjunctionally) furthermore or on the other hand
Cross References
Galatians 5Whosoever is circumcised for justification is under obligation to fulfill the entire law under its curse.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Peter similarly calls the ceremonial law a yoke which neither they nor their fathers could bear.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Seeking justification by legal circumcision makes Christ's death of no benefit or effect.
Supported by JFB
Exhorts not to turn 'again' to the weak, beggarly elements of spiritual bondage.
Supported by JFB
Grace and works-righteousness are mutually exclusive; seeking justification by the law forfeits grace.
Supported by JFB
Reiterates that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails, but a new creature.
Supported by John Calvin
Paul uses the same proverbial metaphor of a little leaven corrupting the entire community.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Direct quotation of the law fulfilled by loving one's neighbor as oneself.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Those led by the Spirit of God are sons of God, freed from legal bondage.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Believers crucify the fleshly world through the cross of Jesus Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Paul circumcised Timothy for expediency, not justification, contrasting with the Galatians' legalism.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the troublers of the church as those who pervert the gospel of Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Warning not to use Christian liberty as a cloak or occasion for maliciousness.
Supported by John Calvin
Contrasts those who walk after the flesh with those who mind the things of the Spirit.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Believers are dead to the law by the body of Christ to bring forth fruit.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The preaching of Christ crucified remains a stumblingblock and offense to legalists.
Supported by Matthew Henry