Galatians 5 is the fifth chapter of the
Epistle to the Galatians
The Epistle to the Galatians is the ninth book of the New Testament. It is a letter from Paul the Apostle to a number of Early Christian communities in Galatia. Scholars have suggested that this is either the Roman province of Galatia in sou ...
in the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
of the
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...
. It is authored by
Paul the Apostle
Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
for the churches in
Galatia
Galatia (; grc, Γαλατία, ''Galatía'', "Gaul") was an ancient area in the highlands of central Anatolia, roughly corresponding to the provinces of Ankara and Eskişehir, in modern Turkey. Galatia was named after the Gauls from Thrace (c ...
, written between AD 49–58. This chapter contains a discussion about
circumcision
Circumcision is a surgical procedure, procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin ...
and the allegory of the "
Fruit of the Holy Spirit
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit (sometimes, incorrectly, referred to as the Fruits of the Holy Spirit) is a biblical term that sums up nine attributes of a person or community living in accord with the Holy Spirit, according to chapter 5 of the Epi ...
".
Text
The original text was written in
Koine Greek
Koine Greek (; Koine el, ἡ κοινὴ διάλεκτος, hē koinè diálektos, the common dialect; ), also known as Hellenistic Greek, common Attic, the Alexandrian dialect, Biblical Greek or New Testament Greek, was the common supra-reg ...
.
This chapter is divided into 26 verses.
Old Testament references
*
Galatians 5:14:
Verse 1
New King James Version
The New King James Version (NKJV) is an English translation of the Bible. The complete NKJV Bible was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson, now HarperCollins. The NKJV is described by Thomas Nelson as being "scrupulously faithful to the origin ...
:''Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.''
New Revised Standard Version
The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) is an English translation of the Bible published in 1989 by the National Council of Churches.[Hagar
Hagar, of uncertain origin; ar, هَاجَر, Hājar; grc, Ἁγάρ, Hagár; la, Agar is a biblical woman. According to the Book of Genesis, she was an Egyptian slave, a handmaiden of Sarah (then known as ''Sarai''), whom Sarah gave to he ...](_blank)
-
Sarah
Sarah (born Sarai) is a biblical matriarch and prophetess, a major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her character similarly, as that of a piou ...
allegory
As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a hidden meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory th ...
or a short independent bridging paragraph between the allegory and the new themes in the chapters 5 and
6.
Neither Circumcision Nor Uncircumcision (5:2–12)
These verses bring up the central theme which is mentioned in
chapter 2 Chapter Two, Chapter 2, or Chapter II may refer to:
Film, television, and theatre
* ''Chapter Two'' (play), a 1977 play by Neil Simon
* ''Chapter Two'' (film), a 1979 adaptation of Neil Simon's play
Television episodes
* "Chapter 2" (''American H ...
about the chasm between "being justified by the law" and "living by faith through the Spirit", in this case a theme that is related to circumcision.
Verse 6
:''For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.''
*"Avails": translated from the Greek word , ', "prevails"; the same word occurs in
Matthew 5:13 and
James 5:16, among others.
[Bengel, Johann]
''Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament''. Galatians 5.
Accessed 24 April 2019.
Living by the Spirit (5:13–26)
![Words of hope R](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Words_of_hope_R.H.%2814%29.jpg)
In this section Paul contrasts "living by the Spirit" with "gratifying the desires of the flesh", which are two opposing ways of living.
Verse 14
:''For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."''
[ NKJV]
Using the citation from Paul speaks positively about the law which is "fulfilled" in the coming of Christ.
Works of the Flesh
Paul lists the works of the flesh (verses 19–21) as the behaviors that would prevent individuals from inheriting the kingdom of God.
English Standard Version
The English Standard Version (ESV) is an English translation of the Bible. Published in 2001 by Crossway, the ESV was "created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors." The ESV relies on recently published critic ...
Good News Translation
Good News Bible (GNB), also called the Good News Translation (GNT) in the United States, is an English translation of the Bible by the American Bible Society. It was first published as the New Testament under the name ''Good News for Modern Man' ...
The lists or catalogues of vices (and also lists of virtues such the one in
Galatians 5:22-23) were a form of ethical instruction very common in the Greco-Roman world.
Fruit of the Holy Spirit
![Dublin Christ Church Cathedral Passage to Synod Hall Window Fruit of the Spirit 2012 09 26](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Dublin_Christ_Church_Cathedral_Passage_to_Synod_Hall_Window_Fruit_of_the_Spirit_2012_09_26.jpg)
*"The fruit of the Spirit": the Ethiopian version reads "...of the Holy Spirit".
Referring to the "internal principle of grace", called the Spirit (), and the graces of which are called "fruit", not "works" (which refers to the actions of the flesh).
It is in the form of a "list of virtues", which has no comparable juxtaposition lists in the contemporary writings; the closest parallel in the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
is perhaps .
*"Love" ( el, agape, la, caritas): may be understood as "love to God", and also "love to Christ", which the teaches people to love the neighbors; furthermore, "love to the house and worship of God", to the truths and ordinances of the Gospel.
*"Joy" ( el, chara, la, gaudium): which is in the Holy Spirit, has him for its author and the object of it is God, as a covenant God and Father in Christ. Moreover, joy in the good of others, of fellow creatures.
*"Peace" ( el, eirene, la, pax): refers to the peace produced through the application of the blood of Christ for pardon, and for justification to the sinner's soul, to yield the peace, quietness, and tranquillity of mind. It is also be the peace with all others, under a work of the God's Spirit of God, to live peaceably with all people.
*"Longsuffering" ( el, makrothumia, la, longanimitas) and "kindness" ( el, chrestotes, la, benignitas): instead of a "patient waiting" for good things or more grace or glory to come, it is a "patient bearing and enduring", through the Spirit, of the present evils with gladness; being slow to anger, ready to forgive mistakes, and bear with as well as forbear one another, accompanied with gentleness, humanity, affability, courteousness, in words, gestures, and actions, to be an imitation of the gentleness of Christ.
*"Goodness"( el, agathosune, la, bonitas): acts of goodness to men, in a natural, civil, moral, spiritual, and evangelic manner, for the benefit both of soul and body, and is well pleasing to God when performed in the exercise of the grace.
*"Faith" or "faithfulness" ( el, pistis, la, fides): Fidelity, both in words and in deeds, is very significant in the Gospel, and a profession of belief. Faith in Christ is a gift of God, and the work of his Spirit, leading a person into believing in Christ for salvation, and making a "profession of faith".
[.]
*"Meekness" or "gentleness" ( el , prautes, la , modestia): refers to humility ("lowliness of mind") which is patterned after Christ and transcribed by the Holy Spirit from Christ into the heart of a regenerate person; thus, walking humbly with God, acknowledging as well as being thankful for every blessing, and depending on his grace, while behaving with modesty and humility among people.
*"Temperance or self-control" ( el , egkrateia, la , continentia) or "continence": refers to "chastity and sobriety", such as moderation in eating and drinking.
* "Against such there is no law": The listed virtues are perfectly agreeable to the law of God. The persons possessing the virtues of the 'fruit' have nothing to fear from the law.
[.]
See also
*
Fruit of the Holy Spirit
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit (sometimes, incorrectly, referred to as the Fruits of the Holy Spirit) is a biblical term that sums up nine attributes of a person or community living in accord with the Holy Spirit, according to chapter 5 of the Epi ...
* Related
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...
parts:
Leviticus 19
Leviticus 19 is the nineteenth chapter of the Book of Leviticus in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. It contains laws on a variety of topics, and is attributed by tradition to Moses.See page 239 in Carmichael, Calum M. ...
,
Psalm 92
The Psalm 92, known as ''Mizmor Shir L'yom HaShabbat'', is ostensibly dedicated to the Shabbat day. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 91.
Alth ...
,
Proverbs 11
Proverbs 11 is the eleventh chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012. The book is a compilation of sever ...
,
Matthew 3
Matthew 3 is the third chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. It is the first chapter dealing with the ministry of Jesus, with events taking place some three decades after the close of the infancy narrative related in the previo ...
.
Notes
References
Bibliography
*
*
External links
* King James Bible - Wikisource
English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate''Online Bible'' at GospelHall.org(ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
Multiple bible versions at ''Bible Gateway''(NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)
{{Epistle to the Galatians
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