Galatians 5: Walk by the Spirit

Where Galatians 5 sits

In the story

Act VI, Church: Acts–Jude · The Journeys, c. AD 48–57

In the Bible

New Testament · Letters · chapter 5 of 6 in Galatians

In Galatians

Stand firm in freedom; walk by the Spirit, 5:1–6:10

Before

Galatians 4: No longer a slave, but a son

After

Galatians 6: A new creation

Galatians 5 summary

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free, so stand firm and do not take up a yoke of slavery again. Paul testifies that if they accept circumcision, Christ will be of no value to them; every man who is circumcised is bound to keep the whole law, and those who seek to be justified by the law have been cut off from Christ and have fallen from grace. By contrast, through the Spirit and by faith we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness, for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but faith expressing itself through love. They were running well; who cut in on them? That persuasion did not come from the God who calls them, and a little leaven spreads through the whole lump. Paul is confident they will agree with him, and the troubler will bear his judgment. If Paul still preached circumcision he would not be persecuted, and the offense of the cross would be gone; he wishes the agitators would go further and mutilate themselves. Yet freedom is not license: they were called to freedom, but not as an opening for the flesh; rather, they are to serve one another in love, for the whole law is fulfilled in one word, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and biting and devouring will destroy them. So Paul says, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh, for flesh and Spirit are at war; if they are led by the Spirit, they are not under the law. The works of the flesh are plain: sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, rage, rivalry, divisions, envy, drunkenness and the like, and those who practice them will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit, without conceit, provocation or envy.

Galatians 5 in context

Speaking

Paul, exhorting the churches he founded

Written for

Galatian believers on the point of accepting circumcision (5:2–4), and already biting and devouring one another (5:15)

Around it

The argument of chapters 3–4 ends in freedom (4:31); chapter 5 calls them to keep it against circumcision (5:1–12) and to use it in love by the Spirit (5:13–26), leading to the practical counsel of chapter 6

The sections of Galatians 5

1. Stand firm, then
   5:1–6
2. The offense of the cross
   5:7–12
3. Serve one another in love
   5:13–15
4. Walk by the Spirit
   5:16–18
5. The fruit of the Spirit
   5:19–23
6. Keep in step with the Spirit
   5:24–26

Around Galatians 5

Also in Stand firm in freedom; walk by the Spirit

• Galatians 6

Read alongside

• Leviticus 19
• Acts 15
• Romans 8
• 1 Corinthians 5
• Romans 13
• 1 Corinthians 6

Chapters that point here

• John 15
• Romans 7
• James 2
• James 3

Questions on Galatians 5

1. Why does Paul say that accepting circumcision would make Christ of no value to them (5:2–4)?

2. Why are the works of the flesh plural and the fruit of the Spirit singular (5:19–23)?

3. How can Paul say “you are not under the law” (5:18) and also that love fulfills the whole law (5:14)?

The answers are in TheoMaps Challenges.