Paul exhorts the Galatians to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made them free, warning that circumcision obligates one to the whole law and severs from Christ, while in Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails but faith working through love. He contrasts the works of the flesh (adultery, fornication, idolatry, hatred, strife, and similar sins excluding from God's kingdom) with the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance), urging them to walk in the Spirit.
Read Galatians Chapter 5 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Places in This Chapter
Position in Book
Defense of ApostleshipChapters 1-2
Defense of GospelChapters 3-4
Life in FreedomChapters 5-6
Freedom from law, fruit of Spirit, practical living.
Bible Bites
A Letter to Multiple Congregations
Unlike most of Paul's letters, Galatians was addressed not to a single church but to 'the churches in Galatia'—multiple congregations in the region. Paul had established these churches during his first missionary journey through cities like Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.
Galatians 1:2Paul's Angriest Letter
Galatians is the only Pauline letter with no thanksgiving or commendation for its recipients. Paul immediately confronts them: 'I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting' the gospel, showing his urgent concern over false teaching.
Galatians