Freedom in Christ
5
1 Stand firm therefore in the freedom with which Christ has made us free,* 6-7% of the Greek manuscripts replace this first half of the verse with, “for freedom Christ has made us free; stand firm therefore” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). and do not be burdened again with a yoke of slavery. 2 Listen! I, Paul, say to you that if you get circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 Further, I testify again to every man who gets circumcised that he is obligated to keep the whole law.† In the context it is clear that Paul is not decrying physical circumcision, that has an important side benefit—women with circumcised husbands don't get cervical cancer. He is combating the idea of spiritual benefit from the practice, as claimed by the Judaizers, and in particular the ‘necessity’ that they claimed. The procedure is for eight-day-old babies, not adult men. 4 You who are ‘being justified’ by law have been alienated from the Christ; you have fallen away from the grace.‡ They have regressed from the covenant of grace to the covenant of law. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait§ “Eagerly wait for”—I love it! Those who are trying to be justified by works don't ‘eagerly wait’ for anything; the future accounting is a source of apprehension. On the other hand, we who understand that we are justified by faith in the Christ do indeed have a hope we can ‘eagerly wait’ for. for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 Because in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from Him who calls you. 9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10 I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will not think differently; but he who troubles you will bear the penalty, whoever he may be.
11 But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that event the offense of the cross would have been removed. 12 I do wish that those who are upsetting you would just remove themselves!* It will be observed that my rendering of this verse differs significantly from that of the better known versions: they have Paul wishing that they would castrate themselves, or commit suicide! The verb is in the middle voice, hence reflexive; it means to ‘sever’ or ‘amputate’, but can also mean to ‘exclude’. I take it Paul is wishing that they would ‘amputate’ or exclude themselves from the situation—he wants them to go away and leave the Galatian believers in peace!
13 Now you, brothers, have been called to freedom; only do not use that freedom as an opening for the flesh, but slave for one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, namely: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”† In the context Paul is referring to that part of the law that deals with interacting with other human beings (not the part that deals with interacting with God). 15 But if you bite and tear at each other, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Spirit VS flesh
16 I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 Because the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh; they oppose each other; it follows that you may not do the things that you wish. 18 However, if you are led by the Spirit you are not under law.‡ What the flesh wants is bad for you; what the Spirit wants is good for you. To be led by the Spirit is not to be under a set of rules; it is a relationship.
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, namely: adultery,§ Perhaps 5% of the Greek manuscripts omit “adultery” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). This statement holds also for “murders” in verse 21. This is one of several lists containing both ‘adultery’ and ‘fornication’, side by side, which indicates that they are distinct concepts. fornication, uncleanness,* This appears to be a cover term for other misuses of sex; for instance, so-called ‘oral sex’ does not receive specific mention in Scripture, but would be included in ‘uncleanness’. licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, fits of anger, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions, 21 envyings, murders, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like; about which I am warning you beforehand, as, in fact, I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.† Here is a plain statement (see also 1 Cor. 6:9-10 and Rev. 21:8). Religious communities that condone or permit such practices are deceiving their constituents; at the Judgment they will get a very nasty surprise. The list refers to what we might call rather obvious forms of sin; there are also the more subtle forms.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control—against such things there is no law.‡ Paul was not referring to certain satanically inspired regimes, that may actually preach hate and violence. 24 Further, those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.§ Another strong statement: a dead desire does not ask to be gratified.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us also conform to the Spirit.* I believe the idea here is similar to that in 5:18 above. Conforming to, or perhaps seeing eye to eye with, the Spirit represents a higher level of spiritual experience. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

*5:1 6-7% of the Greek manuscripts replace this first half of the verse with, “for freedom Christ has made us free; stand firm therefore” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

†5:3 In the context it is clear that Paul is not decrying physical circumcision, that has an important side benefit—women with circumcised husbands don't get cervical cancer. He is combating the idea of spiritual benefit from the practice, as claimed by the Judaizers, and in particular the ‘necessity’ that they claimed. The procedure is for eight-day-old babies, not adult men.

‡5:4 They have regressed from the covenant of grace to the covenant of law.

§5:5 “Eagerly wait for”—I love it! Those who are trying to be justified by works don't ‘eagerly wait’ for anything; the future accounting is a source of apprehension. On the other hand, we who understand that we are justified by faith in the Christ do indeed have a hope we can ‘eagerly wait’ for.

*5:12 It will be observed that my rendering of this verse differs significantly from that of the better known versions: they have Paul wishing that they would castrate themselves, or commit suicide! The verb is in the middle voice, hence reflexive; it means to ‘sever’ or ‘amputate’, but can also mean to ‘exclude’. I take it Paul is wishing that they would ‘amputate’ or exclude themselves from the situation—he wants them to go away and leave the Galatian believers in peace!

†5:14 In the context Paul is referring to that part of the law that deals with interacting with other human beings (not the part that deals with interacting with God).

‡5:18 What the flesh wants is bad for you; what the Spirit wants is good for you. To be led by the Spirit is not to be under a set of rules; it is a relationship.

§5:19 Perhaps 5% of the Greek manuscripts omit “adultery” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). This statement holds also for “murders” in verse 21. This is one of several lists containing both ‘adultery’ and ‘fornication’, side by side, which indicates that they are distinct concepts.

*5:19 This appears to be a cover term for other misuses of sex; for instance, so-called ‘oral sex’ does not receive specific mention in Scripture, but would be included in ‘uncleanness’.

†5:21 Here is a plain statement (see also 1 Cor. 6:9-10 and Rev. 21:8). Religious communities that condone or permit such practices are deceiving their constituents; at the Judgment they will get a very nasty surprise. The list refers to what we might call rather obvious forms of sin; there are also the more subtle forms.

‡5:23 Paul was not referring to certain satanically inspired regimes, that may actually preach hate and violence.

§5:24 Another strong statement: a dead desire does not ask to be gratified.

*5:25 I believe the idea here is similar to that in 5:18 above. Conforming to, or perhaps seeing eye to eye with, the Spirit represents a higher level of spiritual experience.

© 2016 Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM, PhD