Galatians 5:19

Translations

Modern

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;

Traditional

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Literal

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

Latin

Manifesta sunt autem opera carnis, quæ sunt fornicatio, immunditia, impudicitia, luxuria,

Original

Greek

English

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;

Notes

Galatians 5:19

The acts of the flesh are obvious (literally The works of the flesh are): Emphasizing law-keeping and sinful actions comes from trying to live without God's Spirit.
obvious: All people have a basic sense of right and wrong (see Romans 1:32; 2:14–15; 1 Corinthians 5:1). But some people still choose to do wrong anyway (Romans 1:18 –21).
The list of acts of the flesh starts with sexual immorality. In contrast, the list of Christian virtues starts with love (Galatians 5:22). Various kinds of sexual misconduct were common (see Romans 1:24 –27; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:15 –18; 2 Corinthians 12:21; 2 Peter 3:10, 18). In ancient pagan religions, people engaged in sexual activities as part of their worship of fertility gods and goddesses (see Revelation 2:14, 20).
When people sin, they become spiritually unclean and cannot have fellowship with God, who is perfectly pure and holy (see Matthew 23:27; Romans 6:19; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:7).

Galatians 5:19–26

These two lists compare life controlled by sinful desires (5:19 –21) with life guided by the Holy Spirit (5:22 –26). Living by the Spirit means following a higher moral standard than the law can provide.

Galatians 5:16–26

A faith without laws will not cause moral ruin. The Holy Spirit guides people, changing their hearts to follow God's will and not sin (see Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10).

Galatians 5:13–6:10

Paul explains that justification (being in right relationship with God) comes by faith alone. He then asks, "If we do not follow the law, what guides our behavior?" He answers that the Holy Spirit provides righteousness. The Judaizers (Jewish Christians who believed in following traditional Jewish laws) likely warned that Paul's message of freedom could lead believers to moral failure (5:1). Paul argues that freedom is not an excuse to sin because love guides Christians. We should use our freedom to serve each other with love (see also 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15).

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul) Circumcision Faith and Good Deeds Family, Community, and Sexual Sin God’s Covenant with Israel’s Kings Holiness and Sexual Purity Holiness by Relationship Sin Enters the World Social Chaos in Judges The Dangers of Sin The Law and the Spirit The Old Life and the New Life The Old Realm and the New The Purpose of the Sinai Covenant

Related verses

1 Corinthians 6:9–10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts,
Colossians 3:5–8
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
Matthew 15:18–19
But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.
1 Peter 4:2–4
Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.
Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
Ephesians 5:3–6
But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.
Galatians 6:8
The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
1 Corinthians 3:3
…for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?
Titus 3:3
For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
Mark 7:21–23
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
Romans 8:13
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:19

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