Galatians 5:20,Galatians 5:21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 5:13-26

In the latter part of this chapter the apostle comes to exhort these Christians to serious practical godliness, as the best antidote against the snares of the false teachers. Two things especially he presses upon them:? I. That they should not strive with one another, but love one another. He tells them (Gal. 5:13) that they had been called unto liberty, and he would have them to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free; but yet he would have them be very careful that they... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 5:16-21

5:16-21 I tell you, let your walk and conversation be dominated by the Spirit, and don't let the desires of the lower side of your nature have their way. For the desires of the lower side of human nature are the very reverse of the desires of the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are the very reverse of those of the lower side of human nature, for these are fundamentally opposed to each other, so that you cannot do whatever you like. The deeds of the lower side of human nature are obvious... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:20

Idolatry ,.... Which some understand of covetousness, which is so called; but rather it means the worshipping of other gods, or of graven images: witchcraft ; any real or pretended league and association with the devil, seeking to converse with familiar spirits, to gain unlawful knowledge, or to do hurt to fellow creatures; which, as it is doing honour to Satan, detracts from the glory of God, and rightly follows idolatry; conjuration, soothsaying, necromancy, and all kind of magic are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:20

Idolatry - Worshipping of idols; frequenting idol festivals; all the rites of Bacchus, Venus, Priapus, etc., which were common among the Gentiles. Witchcraft - Φαρμακεια , from φαρμακον a drug or poison; because in all spells and enchantments, whether true or false, drugs were employed. As a drug, φαρμακον , might either be the means of removing an evil, or inflicting one, etymologists have derived it from φερον ακος , bringing ease, or φερον αχος , bringing pain. So spells and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13-26

Freedom sustained by the Spirit. I. USE OF CHRISTIAN FREEDOM . "For ye, brethren, were called for freedom." Paul, having wished the Judaizing teachers off Galatian soil, justifies the strength of his wish. They would have led the Galatians into bondage, but God had called them for freedom. He makes a distinction between the possession of freedom and the use of freedom. He had been under the necessity of making prominent their possession of freedom in contending against the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:16-26

Christian progress realized through antagonism. We must not suppose, however, that the love which God gives us as our liberty can work out its will without experiencing opposition. Opposition we know it will meet in the world of selfish men; but Paul here points out the antagonism it meets within our own personalities. The flesh antagonizes the Spirit. Love does not get its own sweet way as often as we would. Self becomes a battle-ground, and God contends with the flesh for the supremacy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:19-21

Classification of the works of the flesh. The picture here exhibited by the apostle is a frightful abyss into which he asks us to look down. We have sin in its many varieties pictured in many parts of Scripture ( Romans 1:18-32 ; 2 Corinthians 13:2 ), but here we have a most complete account of the works of the flesh. I. THE WORKS OF THE FLESH . The flesh and the body are not synonymous. The apostle usually speaks of the body in terms of respect—unlike ascetics, who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:20

Idolatry, witchcraft ( εἰδωλολατρεία φαρμακεία ); idolatry , sorcery. These two form a second group—sins of irreligion; and such as would be likely greatly to beset new converts from idolatry. We may compare, "in respect to the former, the temptations which the apostle recognizes the danger of in the case of the Corinthians (1 Corinthians rift. and 10.). "Sorcery." The word φαρμακεία , originally denoting the use of drugs merely, means, sometimes, their use for poisoning; but... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 5:20

Witchcraft - Pretending to witchcraft. The apostle does not vouch for the actual existence of witchcraft; but he says that what was known as such was a proof of the corrupt nature of man, and was one of the fruits of it. No one can doubt it. It was a system of imposture and falsehood throughout; and nothing is a better demonstration of the depravity of the human heart than an extended and systematized attempt to impose on mankind. The word which is used here (φαρμακεία pharmakeia, whence our... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Galatians 5:19-21

Galatians 5:19-21. Now the works of the flesh By which that inward corrupt principle is discovered; are manifest Are plain and undeniable. He says works, in the plural, because those of the flesh are distinct from, and often inconsistent with each other. But the fruit of the Spirit is mentioned in the singular, (Galatians 5:22,) the graces thereof being all consistent, and connected together. Which are these He enumerates those works of the flesh to which the Galatians were most... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 5:13-26

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 5:16-21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:16-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:19-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 5:20

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Galatians 5:19-21

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