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Read Galatians Chapter 5

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1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

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.

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.

7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

8This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

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.

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.

13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

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.

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.

18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

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.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

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.

26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

You are readingKing James Version

Explanation

Galatians 5

In short

Paul tells the Galatians not to go back under the law by getting circumcised, since Christ has set them free. Instead, he calls them to live by the Spirit, which produces good character and love, rather than following sinful desires.

What the text says

Verses 1-6 open with Paul's main point: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." He warns that if they get circumcised, Christ will be useless to them (verse 2), because circumcision obligates them to keep the whole law (verse 3). Whoever tries to be justified by the law has "fallen from grace" (verse 4). What matters instead is "faith which worketh by love" (verse 6).

Verses 7-12 express Paul's concern. He asks who stopped them from obeying the truth, and says "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (verse 9), meaning a small wrong influence spreads. He hopes they will think differently (verse 10).

Verses 13-15 shift the focus: they are called to liberty, but should not use it as an excuse for selfish living. Instead, "by love serve one another" (verse 13), since "all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (verse 14).

Verses 16-26 describe two ways of living. Walking in the Spirit means the flesh's desires will not control you (verse 16). Verses 19-21 list works of the flesh: adultery, hatred, murder, and others that exclude people from God's kingdom. Verses 22-23 list the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control. Verse 24 says those who belong to Christ have "crucified the flesh." Verse 25 concludes: "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

Takeaways

  • Freedom from the law comes through faith in Christ, not through following rules about circumcision or other practices.
  • The Holy Spirit produces character marked by love and self-control, opposed to destructive desires and sins.
  • Loving other people is the fulfillment of God's law.

Explanation written with the help of AI. The Bible text above is not changed. Context and interpretation are flagged as such; always come back to the text itself.