Galatians 5:16-6:10
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
16 (A)I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.[a] 17 For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want.(B) 18 But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.(C) 19 [b]Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness,(D) 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions,(E) 21 occasions of envy,[c] 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,(F) 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.(G) 24 Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.(H) 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.(I) 26 Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another.(J)
Chapter 6
Life in the Community of Christ.[d] 1 Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted.(K) 2 Bear one another’s burdens,(L) and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.[e] 3 (M)For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is deluding himself. 4 [f]Each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast with regard to himself alone, and not with regard to someone else; 5 for each will bear his own load.(N)
6 (O)One who is being instructed in the word should share all good things with his instructor.[g] 7 Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows, 8 because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.(P) 9 Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.(Q) 10 So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all,(R) but especially to those who belong to the family of the faith.[h]
VI. Conclusion
Final Appeal.[i]
Footnotes
- 5:16–25 Spirit…flesh: cf. Gal 3:3 and the note on Rom 8:1–13.
- 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.”
- 6:1–10 The ethical exhortations begun at Gal 5:1 continue with a variety of admonitions to the community (brothers: see note on Gal 1:2). Nearly every sentence contains a separate item of practical advice; the faith and freedom of the gospel underlie each maxim. Tensions and temptation within communal life have previously been addressed in Gal 5:15, 26 and Gal 6:1 continues with a case in which a person is caught in some transgression such as those in Gal 5:19–21; cf. Gal 2:17.
- 6:2 The law of Christ: cf. Rom 8:2; 1 Cor 9:21; Gal 5:14. The principle of love for others is meant. To bear one another’s burdens is to “serve one another through love” (Gal 5:13).
- 6:4–5 Self-examination is the cure for self-deception. Compare what you are with what you were before, and give the glory to God; cf. Rom 6:19–22. Load: used elsewhere of a soldier’s pack. Correcting one’s own conduct avoids burdening others with it.
- 6:6 Implies oral instruction in the faith by catechists; these are to be remunerated for their service; cf. Rom 15:27.
- 6:10 The family of the faith: the Christian household or church. Doing good has a universal object (to all), but the local community makes specific the reality of those to be served.
- 6:11–18 A postscript in Paul’s own hand, as was his practice (see 1 Cor 16:21; 2 Thes 3:17). Paul summarizes his appeal against his opponents (Gal 6:12–13), then returns to his message of glorying in the cross, not in circumcision, as the means of salvation (Gal 6:14–15; cf. Gal 5:11). A benediction follows at Gal 6:16. In the polemical spirit that the attack on his apostleship called forth (Gal 1:11–2:21), Paul reasserts his missionary credentials (Gal 6:17) before giving a final benediction (Gal 6:18).
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