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Galatians 5:13-26
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Galatians 5:13-26
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
13 For you were called for freedom, brothers.(A) But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve[a] one another through love. 14 For the whole law(B) is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.
16 (C)I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.[c] 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.(D) 18 But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.(E) 19 [d]Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness,(F) 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions,(G) 21 occasions of envy,[e] 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,(H) 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.(I) 24 Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.(J) 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.(K) 26 Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another.(L)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 5:13 Serve…through love: cf. Gal 5:6.
- 5:14 Lv 19:18, emphasized by Jesus (Mt 22:39; Lk 10:27); cf. Rom 13:8–10.
- 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.”
Galatians 5:13-26
New International Version
Galatians 5:13-26
New International Version
Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.(A) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a];(B) rather, serve one another(C) humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b](D) 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit,(E) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.(F) 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.(G) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want.(H) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit,(I) you are not under the law.(J)
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,(K) impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.(L) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(M)
22 But the fruit(N) of the Spirit is love,(O) joy, peace,(P) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.(Q) Against such things there is no law.(R) 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh(S) with its passions and desires.(T) 25 Since we live by the Spirit,(U) let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,(V) provoking and envying each other.
Footnotes
- Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.
- Galatians 5:14 Lev. 19:18
- Galatians 5:17 Or you do not do what
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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