1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. 2 Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love. 7 You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth? 8 Such persuasion does not come from the One who calls you. 9 A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough. 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be. 11 Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves! 13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
Galatians · Berean Standard Bible
Galatians 5 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (26)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16; Romans 6:14; John 8:32–36
- 2 Galatians 5:6; Acts 15:1; Galatians 2:3–5; Romans 9:31–32; Galatians 5:11
- 3 Galatians 3:10; Romans 2:25; James 2:10–11; Deuteronomy 27:26; Deuteronomy 31:21
- 4 2 Peter 2:20–22; Romans 9:31–32; Romans 11:6; Galatians 2:21; Hebrews 12:15
- 5 Psalm 130:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Psalm 62:5; Romans 8:23–25; Titus 2:13
- 6 Galatians 6:15; 1 Corinthians 7:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; James 2:14–26; 2 Corinthians 5:14
- 7 1 Corinthians 9:24; Galatians 3:1; Hebrews 12:1; Matthew 13:21; 1 Peter 1:22
- 8 Galatians 1:6; Romans 8:28
- 9 1 Corinthians 15:33; Mark 8:15; 1 Corinthians 5:6–7; Luke 12:1; Luke 13:21
- 10 Galatians 5:12; Philippians 3:15; Galatians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 2:3; Galatians 2:6
- 11 1 Corinthians 1:23; Galatians 6:12; Galatians 4:29; Galatians 2:3; 1 Corinthians 1:18
- 12 Galatians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 5:13; Genesis 17:14; Exodus 12:15; Joshua 7:25
- 13 1 Peter 2:16; 1 Corinthians 9:19; 1 Corinthians 8:9; Romans 15:1–2; Galatians 5:14
- 14 Matthew 7:12; Leviticus 19:18; Galatians 6:2; Romans 13:8–10; John 13:34
- 15 1 Corinthians 3:3; James 3:14–4:3; Galatians 5:26; 2 Corinthians 11:20; 2 Corinthians 12:20
- 16 Galatians 5:24–25; Romans 8:12–14; Galatians 6:8; Galatians 5:19–21; Colossians 3:5–10
- 17 Romans 8:13; Romans 8:5–8; John 3:6; Matthew 26:41; Psalm 119:20
- 18 Romans 6:14–15; Romans 8:14; Proverbs 8:20; Galatians 5:25; Ezekiel 36:27
- 19 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Colossians 3:5–8; Matthew 15:18–19; 1 Peter 4:2–4; Revelation 21:8
- 20 Titus 3:10; Revelation 21:8; 1 Corinthians 11:19; 2 Corinthians 11:19; Acts 8:9–11
- 21 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Romans 8:13; Romans 13:13; Ephesians 5:5–6; 1 Corinthians 5:11
- 22 Colossians 3:12–17; 1 Corinthians 13:4–7; John 15:5; James 3:17–18; John 15:2
- 23 1 Timothy 1:9; Acts 24:25; Titus 2:2; Titus 1:8; 1 Corinthians 9:25
- 24 Romans 6:6; Romans 13:14; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:16–18; Romans 8:9
- 25 Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:4–5; Romans 8:2; John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6
- 26 James 3:14–16; Philippians 2:1–3; James 4:16; 1 Corinthians 3:7; Luke 14:10
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… again, he proceeds to tell us the spiritual actions which vivify a man, that is, the engrafting of the Spirit; thus saying, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, benignity, faith, meekness, continence, chastity: against these there is no law." As, therefore, he who has gone forward to the better things, and has brought forth …
Thus came I to understand, from my own experience, what I had read, how that "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh." I verily lusted both ways; yet more in that which I approved in myself, than in that which I disapproved in myself.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… as received Him," it is said "to them gave He power to become the sons of God." And yet many of these children Paul hath affirmed to be nothing profited by their father; "For if ye be circumcised," saith he, "Christ shall profit you nothing." And if Christ be no help to those who will not take heed to themselves, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… Himself send Him forth at this time also upon you; and by Him keep us also, imparting His benefit in common to us all, that we may ever render up the fruits of the Holy Ghost, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, in Christ Jesus our Lord:--By whom and with whom, together with the Holy Ghost, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
For he who is circumcised is a debtor to do the whole law.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 9 (1899)