Galatians
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Galatians 5
Galatians 5
1For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.
1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Commentary · verse 1
2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Commentary · verse 2
Receiving circumcision (relying on the Law) will profit you nothing from Christ.
3Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.
3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Commentary · verses 3-4
When we try to be justified by works (doing things in our own power), we are fallen from grace, we are apart from the Holy Spirit working through us.
5For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.
6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.
5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Commentary · verses 5-6
Circumcision, in and of itself, is not good or bad. What is important is faith working through love.
7Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?
7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
Commentary · verse 7
The Galatians were making progress and Paul wanted to know what was hindering them by making them think they needed the Law.
8This persuasion came not of him that calleth you.
8This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
Commentary · verse 8
Paul said this false information was not coming from God.
9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Commentary · verse 9
Just as a little leaven will leaven the whole lump, one deceiving person can make an entire community unprofitable.
10I have confidence to you-ward in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
10I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
Commentary · verse 10
Those who cause others to stumble will bear the judgment of the trouble they caused. This was similar to what Jesus said about causing "one of these little ones to stumble" (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, Luke 17:2): it would be better to have a "great millstone" hung on your neck and dropped in the sea than to cause "one of these little ones to stumble."
11But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away.
12I would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision.
11And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
12I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
Commentary · verses 11-12
Paul implied that those who were teaching the Galatians that they needed circumcision would perform a surgery on themselves that went beyond only removing the foreskin.
13For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.
13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Commentary · verse 13
Doctrine: Our freedom ought to result in loving others and being servants to each other, not as an excuse to walk in the flesh.
14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Commentary · verse 14
The Law is fulfilled (ultimate effect) by loving your neighbor as yourself (which is a direct effect of loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength). This was HOW Jesus fulfilled the Law: through love.
15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Commentary · verses 15-16
Doctrine: Walking in the Spirit (living by grace through faith) will stop us from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. We do not have to focus on what not to do, like the Law. We can focus on what to do, which is grace.
17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.
17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Commentary · verse 17
Doctrine: The flesh and the Spirit contradict each other. You cannot walk in the Spirit and the flesh simultaneously.
Doctrines on this passage
18But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Commentary · verse 18
Paul further stated that being led by the Spirit would remove you out from under the Law. How is that possible?
19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Commentary · verses 19-21
Verses 19-21 were a list of effects of walking in your flesh. These things will happen if you live according to your flesh. Notice, there are many laws dealing with the destructive effects that result when people do the behaviors in that list.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Commentary · verses 22-23
Verses 22-23 were a list of effects of walking in the Spirit. These things will happen if you live according to the Spirit. Notice, there are no laws against any of these nine effects of walking in the Spirit, which would mean the Law has no effect on people who exhibit these behaviors.
24And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
25If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.
24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Commentary · verses 24-25
Paul encouraged the Galatians to not only live by the Spirit but to walk by the Spirit. "Walking" implied progress: actions. Remember, the Soul/Mind and the Spirit need to work through the flesh. Living by the Spirit is the Soul/Mind being in agreement. Walking in the Spirit is the Mind/Soul and Spirit able to successfully work through the flesh.
26Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.
26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Commentary · verse 26
Paul also stated that we should not envy other believers who walk in the Spirit better than us, which was another way the Law could be brought back over us.
Theme of Chapter 5: Paul emphasized that the Law had no effect on believers who walked in the Spirit. Believers who were led by the Holy Spirit (grace) did behaviors that were the opposite of the flesh and there were no laws against these behaviors.
Paul began this section summarizing the previous chapter: freedom in Christ vs. returning to bondage under the Law. Stand fast in Christ where we are free and not in the Law which was bondage. "Stand fast" was the cause, freedom was an effect of this.