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The Bible Study New Testament

Galatians 5:20

Idols. Worship to these included obscene and bizarre practices. Witchcraft. This formed part of idolatry. The pagan priests claimed to be able to speak with and control the evil spirits. By this they frightened people and made themselves rich. Enemies. Who bear grudges against each other and will never forgive and forget. Fight. Hostility, such as the kind that brings on unreasonable lawsuits. Compare 1 Corinthians 6:7. Jealous. Which leads to selfish scheming and plotting against others. Angry. Violent, uncontrolled anger. Ambitious. The selfish spirit that is willing to crush others just to get ahead. Separate. The spirit that causes people to form parties and groups (sects) in religion out of selfish motives.

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See also Galatians 5:20 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    GALATIANS 5:20 e;rij The Textus Receptus, following C Db, c F G K L N P most minuscules Old Latin vg goth syrh copbo _al,_ reads the plural e;reij. The earlier representatives of the Alexandrian and...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 20. _IDOLATRY_] Worshipping of idols; frequenting idol festivals; all the rites of Bacchus, Venus, Priapus, c., which were common among the Gentiles. _WITCHCRAFT_] φαρμακεια, from φαρμακον, _a...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. THE WALK OF THE JUSTIFIED BELIEVER, AS NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE CHAPTER 5 _ 1. Stand fast! Be not entangled! (Galatians 5:1)_ 2. Exhortations and the law of love. (Galatians 5:7) 3....

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GALATIANS 5:13 TO GALATIANS 6:10. Practical appendix to the epistle; in the form of guarding the doctrine of free grace against antinomian abuse....

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    AN OLD STORY AND A NEW MEANING (Galatians 4:21-31 ; Galatians 5:1) 5:1 Tell me this--you who want to be subject to the law, you listen to it being read to you, don't you? Well, then, it stands writte...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    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...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WITCHCRAFT. sorcery. Greek. _pharmakeia_. Here and Revelation 9:21; Revelation 18:23. See also Revelation 21:8; Revelat

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The second class of sins are those which concern religion idolatry and sorcery, or witchcraft. The word -idolatry" is probably to be understood here in its literal sense, the worship of false deities,...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    St Paul supplies a test whereby men may ascertain whether they are under the curse of the law or heirs of the promise. First, the Apostle gives a list of the _works of the flesh_not complete but comp...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἜΡΙΣ אABD* syrPesh. ἔρεις Text. Rec. with CDbcG etc. latt. syrHarcl. Westcott and Hort margin. ΖΗ͂ΛΟΣ BDgrGgr*syrPesh., ζῆλοι Text. Rec. with אCDbc etc. vulg. syrHarcl., Westcott and Hort margin. 20...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    16–24. _The nature, outcome, and means of Liberty in daily life_ (Galatians 5:16) In contrast to such disputes, which are the visible signs of lives lived by the flesh, walk by the spirit and you will...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    13–6:10. PRACTICAL. LIBERTY IS NOT LICENSE BUT SERVICE; NOT THE FLESH BUT THE SPIRIT MUST BE THE AIM OF THE BELIEVER...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΕΙΔΩΛΟΛΑΤΡΊΑ да/630) поклонение идолам, идолопоклонство (FS, 33-36). ФАРΜΑΚΕΊΑ (G5331) использование лекарств или препаратов, использование препаратов в магических целях, магия, колдовство (FS, 36-39...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2085 THE FRUITS OF THE FLESH AND OF THE SPIRIT CONTRASTED Galatians 5:19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolat...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WITCHCRAFT,— Some would render the word φαρμακεια by _poisoning;_ but surely this is comprehended under the word murders; nor is there any reason to believe the flesh so particularly inclined to this...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    SPECIAL STUDY THE WORKS OF THE FLESH AND THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:19 Adultery is found only in the KJV, since it is missing in the oldest and best Greek manuscripts. The sin itself is proh...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT 5:19, 20 (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, division...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    see notes on vs 19...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Confirming Galatians 5:18 by the contrariety between the works of the flesh and the fru...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 This paragraph is the summary and conclusion of the doctrinal argument. Tersely, he puts the case. Which shall it be _ Christ _ or _ circumcision_!' No half hearted allegiance here, no serving of tw...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 1-12. The futility of seeking justification by attempting to comply with the demands of the Mosaic Law; the inconsistency of works and faith as methods of salvation. P...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    WORKS OF THE FLESH include not merely carnal sins, such as the first three in the list, but evil passions like strife and jealousy and their social effects, such as factions and divisions. 22, 23. AG...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    People *sin when they live by their own desires. These *sins are in 4 groups. (1) Sex *sins. God created sex. So it is a good thing. But it is right only between a man and his wife. All other sex is...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE GALATIANS _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 5 CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE V1 We have freedom because Christ has made us free. Be certain that you remain free. You must not allow yourselv...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    IDOLATRY. — When the Christian is warned against idolatry, it is not, of course, _systematic_ idolatry that is meant, but that occasional compliance with idolatrous customs — taking part in the idol f...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (16-26) To follow the guidance of the Spirit is to obtain a double release: on the one hand, from the evil appetites and passions of the flesh or of sense — which is the direct antithesis to the Spiri...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 23 CHRIST'S SPIRIT AND HUMAN FLESH. Galatians 5:16 LOVE is the guard of Christian freedom. The Holy Spirit is its guide. These principles accomplish what the law could never do. It withheld...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 24 THE WORKS OF THE FLESH. Galatians 5:19 THE tree is known by its fruits: the flesh by its "works." And these works are "manifest." The field of the world-"this present evil world" Galatian...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    MEN WHO REGULATE THEIR LIVES BY THE SPIRIT WILL NOT CARRY OUT DESIRES OF THE FLESH. FOR GOD HAS SET THESE TWO FORCES IN MUTUAL ANTAGONISM WITHIN OUR HEARTS FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF KEEPING DUE CHECK...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ζῆλος. See note on Galatians 4:17. ἐριθίαι. The apparent derivation of this word from ἔριθος (_a hireling_) points to mercenary motives. The Apostle elsewhere associates it with jealousy, envy and vai...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    PRODUCE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:13 That Christ has freed us from the Law as a means of salvation does not free us from moral restraint, but brings us under the constraint of a higher law,...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The whole law of liberty is stated in the sentences, "For freedom did Christ set us free," "stand fast therefore," and "be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage." He then refers first to circumcis...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, he...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Galatians 1:1-24. We saw the second of Corinthians characterized by the most rapid transitions of feeling, by a deep and fervent sense of God's consolations, by a revulsion so much the more powerful i...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    It is in this liberty, the liberty of Christ, alluding to the free woman and Jerusalem above, that they were to stand fast, and not put themselves again under the yoke of the law. If they took that gr...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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 associati...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Ver. 20. _Idolatry_] This is fitly set after those fleshly sins, as commonly accompanied with them, 1 Corinthia...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _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...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT, HATRED, VARIANCE, EMULATIONS, WRATH, STRIFE, SEDITIONS, HERESIES,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The works of the flesh:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    LIBERTY TO BE PRACTICED (vs.1-6) Chapter 4 dealt with the perfect freedom introduced by God Himself through Christ, freedom given to all who have been redeemed by His precious blood, freedom from the...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE EVIDENT, WHICH ARE: ADULTERY, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, LEWDNESS, Works of the flesh are - plural, a multiple list, do not violate ANY of these Adultery - violation of...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    16-26 If it be our care to act under the guidance and power of the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and oppositions of the corrupt nature which remains in us, it shall no...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    IDOLATRY; either the worshipping of the creature for God, or the worshipping of God in and by the creature, as by images, &c. WITCHCRAFT; the product of compacts with the devil; by virtue of which, th...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book VI And to the Gnostic false opinion is foreign, as the true belongs to him, and is allied with him. Wherefore the noble apostle calls one of the kinds of fornicati...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Galatians 5:20 idolatry G1495 sorcery G5331 hatred G2189 contentions G2054 jealousies G2205 wrath G2372 ambitions G2052 dissensions...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Now the works of the flesh are openly revealed, which are these, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, fits of anger, factions, divisions, party f...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    FREEDOM IS NOT TO BE MISINTERPRETED AS LICENCE. THEY MUST WALK IN LOVE AND BY THE SPIRIT (GALATIANS 5:13). Paul now goes on to deal with the charge that the Gospel he is presenting gives men licence t...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _Walking by the Spirit. The Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit._ Paul exhorts the Galatians to lead a truly Christian life under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and contrasts the vices o...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Galatians 5:19-21. NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE MANIFEST, OF WHICH KIND (or such as) ARE. The practical test of the fruits by which a tree is known (comp. Matthew 7:16). ‘Manifest,' plain and obviou...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 5:13. _For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another._ Do not turn your liberty into license. The apostle...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Remember, beloved brethren, that the Epistle to the Galatians is one in which Paul, with especial clearness, proves the doctrine of justification by faith alone. So much is this the case, that the fam...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 5:1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ had made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Chris...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 5:1. _Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage._ «You are not under the law, but under grace. Do not subje...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Liberty of the believer in Christ, apart from the law. Conflict of flesh and the Spirit. Christian character the result of the Spirit's work not self-effort. CHARACTERS: Christ, Holy Spirit...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Galatians 5:1. _Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,_ by the redemption he has procured through the shedding of his own most precious blood. The liberty of your cele...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Now the works of the flesh are manifest._ THE WORKS OF THE FLESH OUR OWN It is the same with all the passions and appetites. No one of them ever leaves a man, who indulges them, just where he was be...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 5:20 IDOLATRY, SORCERY. These are ways to access evil spiritual beings. They reject the way in which God says he should be worshiped (see John 14:6)

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 5:16 Life under the law expresses itself in the works of the flesh, but those who live by the Spirit bear fruit pleasing to God. ⇐...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 5 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. S. Paul proceeds to urge the Galatians not to submit to the yoke of the Old Law, lest they be deprived of the fruits of Christ's righteousness, since in Him neit...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _Wrath._ Anger is the desire for revenge, and is a deadly sin when a bitter revenge is sought, or an object on which to bestow the angry feelings. It is venial only when it is instinctive, or when it...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Galatians 5:19. THE WORKS OF THE FLESH.— 1. _Sensual vices_—“adultery [omitted in the oldest MSS.], fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness.” 2. _Theological vices...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GALATIANS 5:1 GALATIANS 5:2 BEHOLD, I PAUL SAY UNTO YOU (ἴδε, ἐγὼ Παῦλος λώγω ὑμῖν); _lo_,_ I Paul say unto you. _The adverbial exclamation ἴδε, found in St. Paul's writings on...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn now to Galatians chapter five. The whole concept is: how do I establish a righteous standing before God? Can I be righteous by keeping the law? Or am I righteous by my simple faith in Je...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 10:13; 1 Chronicles 10:14; 1 Samuel 15:23; 2 Chronicles 33:6;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Witchcraft [φ α ρ μ α κ ι α]. Or sorcery. Elsewhere only Revelation 18:23. From farmakon a drug. In LXX, see Exodus 7:11; Wisd. 12 4; Isaiah 47:9. Comp. Acts 19

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE GRACES OF THE SPIRIT'S INDWELLING Galatians 5:14 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. The works of the flesh are manifest. It is not necessary for anyone to draw upon his imagination to describe the works of...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Much is written about the Holy Spirit in the Word of God. The Epistles of Paul are freighted with many marvelous messages relative to the Sp...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Idolatry, witchcraft — That this means witchcraft, strictly speaking, (not poisoning,) appears from its being joined with the worship of devil — gods, and not with murder. This is frequently and solem...

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Old Testament