GAL 5:16-26

Walking by the Spirit

16Paul said: 'Walk by the Spirit, and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. [5:17] For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh — for these are opposed to one another — so that you do not do whatever you may wish. [5:18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. [5:19] Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, uncleanness, sensuality, [5:20] idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, contentions, dissensions, factions, [5:21] envyings, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these — which I forewarn you, even as I also warned before, that those doing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [5:22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [5:23] gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. [5:24] Now those of Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [5:25] If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit also let us walk. [5:26] Let us not become boastful, provoking one another, envying one another.'

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, ethical discourse often framed human behavior as a struggle between opposing forces—reason versus passion, virtue versus vice. Paul’s language here reflects this dualistic framework but reorients it around the Spirit and the flesh. For Jewish listeners, the 'works of the flesh' would evoke violations of Torah, particularly sexual immorality and idolatry, which were central to Jewish identity markers. Gentile listeners, familiar with Stoic and Epicurean debates about self-control, would recognize the list of vices as behaviors destabilizing social harmony. The term (pharmakeia) would resonate with practices of magic and potions, common in pagan religious contexts but condemned in Jewish and Christian thought. Paul’s emphasis on 'walking by the Spirit' contrasts with both Jewish reliance on the Law and Gentile reliance on philosophical self-mastery, presenting the Spirit as the transformative power enabling ethical living.

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How other translations render this

GAL 5:16

KJV: This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
BSB: So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Koinōnos: Paul said: 'Walk by the Spirit, and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.

GAL 5:17

KJV: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
BSB: For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
Koinōnos: For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh — for these are opposed to one another — so that you do not do whatever you may wish.

GAL 5:18

KJV: But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
BSB: But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Koinōnos: But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

GAL 5:19

KJV: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
BSB: The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
Koinōnos: Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, uncleanness, sensuality,

GAL 5:20

KJV: Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
BSB: idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,
Koinōnos: idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, contentions, dissensions, factions,

GAL 5:21

KJV: Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
BSB: and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Koinōnos: envyings, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these — which I forewarn you, even as I also warned before, that those doing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

GAL 5:22

KJV: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
BSB: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Koinōnos: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

GAL 5:23

KJV: Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
BSB: gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Koinōnos: gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

GAL 5:24

KJV: And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
BSB: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Koinōnos: Now those of Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

GAL 5:25

KJV: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
BSB: Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.
Koinōnos: If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit also let us walk.

GAL 5:26

KJV: Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
BSB: Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
Koinōnos: Let us not become boastful, provoking one another, envying one another.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

GAL 5:16

do walk:The word translated 'do walk' here implies a habitual, ongoing way of life or conduct, not just a single act of walking.

GAL 5:19

adultery:The term used here for 'adultery' was a broad category encompassing all forms of illicit sexual activity, including prostitution and fornication, not just infidelity within marriage.

GAL 5:20

sorcery,:The word translated 'sorcery' originally referred to the use of drugs, potions, or charms, often with magical or occult intent, and could include poisoning.

GAL 5:21

murders:The word translated 'murders' is a mistranslation; the original word meant 'drunkenness' or 'intoxication,' referring to excessive consumption of alcohol.