1 Christ set us free so we could have real freedom. So stand firm and don't get burdened down again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Let me, Paul, tell you bluntly: if you rely on the way of circumcision, Christ will be of absolutely no benefit to you. 3 Let me repeat: every man who is circumcised has to keep the whole of the law. 4 Those of you who think you can be made right by the law are cut off from Christ—you have abandoned grace. 5 For through the Spirit we trust and wait in hope to be made right. 6 For in Christ Jesus being circumcised or uncircumcised doesn't achieve anything; it's only trust working through love that matters. 7 You were doing so well! Who got in the way and prevented you from being convinced by the truth? 8 This “persuasion” certainly isn't from the one who calls you. 9 You only need a little bit of yeast to raise the whole batch of dough. 10 I'm confident in the Lord that you won't change the way you think, and that the one who is confusing you will face the consequences, whoever he is. 11 As for me, brothers and sisters, if I were still advocating circumcision—why am I still persecuted? If that was true, it would remove the issue of the cross that offends people so much. 12 If only those who are causing you trouble would go even further than circumcision and castrate themselves! 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to freedom! Just don't use your freedom as an excuse to indulge your sinful human nature—instead serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law is summed up in this one command, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you attack and tear into one another, watch out that you don't completely destroy yourselves! 16 My advice is to walk by the Spirit. Don't satisfy the desires of your sinful human nature. 17 For the desires of the sinful nature are opposed to the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are opposed to the sinful nature. They fight one another, so you don't do what you want to do. 18 But if the Spirit leads you, you're not under the law. 19 It's clear what the sinful human nature produces: sexual immorality, indecency, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, dissension, heresy, 21 envy, drunkenness, feasting, and similar things. As I warned you before so I warn you again: nobody who behaves like this will inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the Spirit produces fruit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trust, 23 gentleness, self-control—and there's no law against these kinds of things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed to the cross their sinful human nature, together with all their sinful passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit we should also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let's not become boastful, or irritate and envy one another.
Galatians · Free Bible Version
Galatians 5 Free Bible Version
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)