Galatians 5:18-25
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
18 But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.(A) 19 [a]Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness,(B) 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions,(C) 21 occasions of envy,[b] drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,(D) 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.(E) 24 Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.(F) 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.(G)
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- 5:19–23 Such lists of vices and virtues (cf. Rom 1:29–31; 1 Cor 6:9–10) were common in the ancient world. Paul contrasts works of the flesh (Gal 5:19) with fruit (not “works”) of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Not law, but the Spirit, leads to such traits.
- 5:21 Occasions of envy: after the Greek word phthonoi, “envies,” some manuscripts add a similar sounding one, phonoi, “murders.”
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