Galatians 5: Embracing True Freedom in Christ Through the Spirit
Executive Summary
Galatians 5 stands as a powerful testament to the Christian’s liberation from the bondage of the Law through faith in Jesus Christ. The chapter opens with a fervent call to stand firm in the freedom Christ has won for us, warning against the yoke of legalism and circumcision. Paul passionately contrasts the life lived under the Law, marked by external works and endless striving, with the life empowered by the Holy Spirit, which manifests in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – the fruits of the Spirit. He underscores that those led by the Spirit are not subject to the Law, and that indulging in the “works of the flesh” hinders their inheritance in the kingdom of God. This chapter, therefore, is a clarion call to pursue a life of authentic freedom in Christ, guided by the indwelling Spirit, rather than returning to the restrictive and ultimately fruitless practices of the Law. This truly reveals how important it is to develop church websites.
In this verse-by-verse commentary, we will explore the depths of Galatians 5, drawing on the wisdom of the Coptic Orthodox tradition, the insights of the Church Fathers, and the historical context of the Pauline epistles. We will seek to understand how this message, delivered to the Galatian churches nearly two thousand years ago, continues to resonate with believers today, calling us to a life of genuine freedom and spiritual maturity.
Commentary
Galatians 5:1
Greek: Τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ οὖν ᾗ Χριστὸς ἡμᾶς ἠλευθέρωσεν στήκετε, καὶ μὴ πάλιν ζυγῷ δουλείας ἐνέχεσθε.
KJV: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
NKJV: Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Paul’s opening salvo is a forceful exhortation: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free…” This liberty isn’t merely a political or social concept; it is a profound spiritual reality. It’s the freedom *from* the Law’s condemnation, its endless demands, and its ultimate inability to justify. The “yoke of bondage” refers to the legalistic requirements some were imposing, particularly circumcision. Imagine the dusty roads of Galatia, the pressure from Judaizers, and the apostle’s urgent plea: don’t trade divine freedom for human-made rules.
Practical Application: We are often tempted to add our own “laws” to our spiritual lives – extra rules and regulations that we believe will make us more righteous. Resist this temptation! True freedom is found in Christ alone, through grace and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
St. Athanasius beautifully expressed this freedom: “Ἐλευθερία γὰρ ἡ ἀλήθεια, καὶ δουλεία ἡ πλάνη.” (Freedom is truth, and deception is slavery.) (Athanasius, Contra Gentes, 33)
Galatians 5:2-4
Greek: Ἴδε ἐγὼ Παῦλος λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐὰν περιτέμνησθε, Χριστὸς ὑμᾶς οὐδὲν ὠφελήσει. μαρτύρομαι δὲ πάλιν παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ περιτεμνομένῳ ὅτι ὀφειλέτης ἐστὶν ὅλον τὸν νόμον ποιῆσαι. κατηργήθητε ἀπὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, οἵτινες ἐν νόμῳ δικαιοῦσθε· τῆς χάριτος ἐξεπέσατε.
KJV: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
NKJV: Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
These verses are incredibly strong. Paul doesn’t mince words: “if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.” This isn’t about the physical act itself, but about what it represents – a reliance on works for justification rather than faith in Christ. He’s saying that if you go back to the Law for salvation, you are obligated to keep all of it perfectly, an impossible task. “Fallen from grace” – a sobering reminder of the seriousness of abandoning the Gospel.
Practical Application: Be wary of adding rules or rituals to your faith that you believe will earn you God’s favor. Our salvation is a gift, freely given through the grace of God in Christ. Accept it with humility and gratitude.
St. Cyril of Alexandria states, “Εἰ γὰρ διά νόμου ἡ δικαιοσύνη, ἄρα Χριστὸς δωρεάν ἀπέθανεν.” (For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.) (Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Galatians, 2.21) He reinforces the principle that salvation is a free gift and not something earned.
Galatians 5:5-6
Greek: ἡμεῖς γὰρ πνεύματι ἐκ πίστεως ἐλπίδα δικαιοσύνης ἀπεκδεχόμεθα. ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτομὴ ἰσχύει τι οὔτε ἀκροβυστία, ἀλλὰ πίστις δι’ ἀγάπης ἐνεργουμένη.
KJV: For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
NKJV: For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Here, Paul shifts the focus to the positive: “we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” It’s not about what *we do* but about what the Spirit does *in us*. Circumcision is irrelevant; what matters is “faith working through love.” This love isn’t sentimental; it’s *agape*, a self-sacrificing, unconditional love that flows from a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Practical Application: Examine your motivations. Are you seeking to *earn* God’s love, or are you responding to the love He has already shown you? Let your faith be expressed through acts of love and service to others.
Galatians 5:7-12
Greek: Ἐτρέχετε καλῶς· τίς ὑμᾶς ἐνέκοψεν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ μὴ πείθεσθαι; ἡ πεισμονὴ οὐκ ἐκ τοῦ καλοῦντος ὑμᾶς. μικρὰ ζύμη ὅλον τὸ φύραμα ζυμοῖ. ἐγὼ πέποιθα εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν κυρίῳ ὅτι οὐδὲν ἄλλο φρονήσετε· ὁ δὲ ταράσσων ὑμᾶς βαστάσει τὸ κρίμα. ἐγὼ δέ, ἀδελφοί, εἰ περιτομὴν ἔτι κηρύσσω, τί ἔτι διώκομαι; ἄρα κατήργηται τὸ σκάνδαλον τοῦ σταυροῦ. ὄφελον καὶ ἀποκόψονται οἱ ἀναστατοῦντες ὑμᾶς.
KJV: Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
NKJV: You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!
Paul uses a racing metaphor: “Ye did run well; who did hinder you…?” He uses the image of leaven to illustrate how a small amount of false teaching can corrupt the entire church. His frustration is palpable. His ironic wish that the agitators would “cut themselves off” is a stark expression of his anger and desire to protect the Galatians from their destructive influence.
Practical Application: Be discerning about the teachings you accept. Don’t be easily swayed by popular opinion or charismatic speakers. Test everything against the Word of God and the teachings of the Church.
Galatians 5:13-15
Greek: Ὑμεῖς γὰρ ἐπ’ ἐλευθερίᾳ ἐκλήθητε, ἀδελφοί· μόνον μὴ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν εἰς ἀφορμὴν τῇ σαρκί, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης δουλεύετε ἀλλήλοις. Ὁ γὰρ πᾶς νόμος ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ πληροῦται, ἐν τῷ· ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν. εἰ δὲ ἀλλήλους δάκνετε καὶ κατεσθίετε, βλέπετε μὴ ὑπ’ ἀλλήλων ἀναλωθῆτε.
KJV: For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
NKJV: For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Liberty is not license! Paul warns against using freedom “as an opportunity for the flesh.” True freedom is expressed in love and service to others. He summarizes the entire Law in one commandment: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Internal conflict, “biting and devouring,” is destructive and self-defeating.
Practical Application: Use your freedom in Christ to serve others in love. Focus on building up the body of Christ, not tearing it down. Consider joining our team and building churches with us through church website design.
Galatians 5:16-18
Greek: Λέγω δέ, πνεύματι περιπατεῖτε καὶ ἐπιθυμίαν σαρκὸς οὐ μὴ τελέσητε. ἡ γὰρ σὰρξ ἐπιθυμεῖ κατὰ τοῦ πνεύματος, τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα κατὰ τῆς σαρκός· ταῦτα δὲ ἀντίκειται ἀλλήλοις, ἵνα μὴ ἃ θέλητε ταῦτα ποιῆτε. εἰ δὲ πνεύματι ἄγεσθε, οὐκ ἐστὲ ὑπὸ νόμον.
KJV: This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 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. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
NKJV: I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
“Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” This verse encapsulates the Christian life. There is an internal battle between the flesh and the Spirit. But those “led of the Spirit” are no longer under the condemnation of the Law.
Practical Application: Make a conscious effort to cultivate your relationship with the Holy Spirit through prayer, Scripture reading, and participation in the sacraments. Allow the Spirit to guide your thoughts, words, and actions.
St. Macarius the Great wrote: “Ἡ καρδία γὰρ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἄβυσσος ἐστίν, καὶ ἔχει πάντα, καὶ τὸν Θεὸν καὶ τὸν διάβολον.” (For the heart of man is an abyss, and it has everything, both God and the devil.) (Macarius the Great, Homily 43.7). This echoes the battle between the flesh and the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-21: The Works of the Flesh
Greek: Φανερὰ δέ ἐστιν τὰ ἔργα τῆς σαρκός, ἅτινά ἐστιν μοιχεία, πορνεία, ἀκαθαρσία, ἀσέλγεια, εἰδωλολατρία, φαρμακεία, ἔχθραι, ἔρις, ζῆλος, θυμοί, ἐριθείαι, διχοστασίαι, αἱρέσεις, φθόνοι, φόνοι, μέθαι, κῶμοι καὶ τὰ ὅμοια τούτοις, ἃ προλέγω ὑμῖν καθὼς καὶ προεῖπον ὅτι οἱ τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντες βασιλείαν Θεοῦ οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν.
KJV: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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.
NKJV: Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Paul presents a stark list of “the works of the flesh.” It’s a catalog of destructive behaviors that are rooted in selfishness and a rejection of God’s will. These are not just isolated acts, but patterns of life that demonstrate a fundamental allegiance to the flesh rather than to the Spirit. The consequences are severe: “they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Practical Application: Honestly assess your own life. Are any of these “works of the flesh” present? Confess them to God and ask for His help to overcome them.
Galatians 5:22-23: The Fruit of the Spirit
Greek: Ὁ δὲ καρπὸς τοῦ πνεύματός ἐστιν ἀγάπη, χαρά, εἰρήνη, μακροθυμία, χρηστότης, ἀγαθωσύνη, πίστις, πραΰτης, ἐγκράτεια· κατὰ τῶν τοιούτων οὐκ ἔστιν νόμος.
KJV: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
NKJV: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
In stark contrast to the “works of the flesh,” Paul lists “the fruit of the Spirit.” This isn’t a collection of separate virtues, but a unified whole, a single “fruit” with nine aspects. These qualities are not produced by human effort, but are the natural outflow of a life indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit. “Against such there is no law” – because they fulfill the very essence of the Law.
Practical Application: Ask yourself, “Is the fruit of the Spirit evident in my life?” If not, seek the Holy Spirit’s help to cultivate these qualities.
Abba Isaac of Syria wrote, “Ἡ ἀγάπη ἐστί βασιλεία.” (Love is the kingdom.) (Isaac of Syria, Ascetical Homilies, Homily 44). Showing how critical it is to embrace the fruits of the spirit.
Galatians 5:24-26
Greek: Οἱ δὲ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τὴν σάρκα ἐσταύρωσαν σὺν τοῖς παθήμασι καὶ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις. εἰ ζῶμεν πνεύματι, πνεύματι καὶ στοιχῶμεν. μὴ γινώμεθα κενόδοξοι, ἀλλήλους προκαλούμενοι, ἀλλήλοις φθονοῦντες.
KJV: And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
NKJV: And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
To be “Christ’s” means to have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” This is a daily, ongoing process of dying to self and living for Christ. He concludes with a warning against vain glory, provoking one another, and envying one another – all manifestations of the flesh that hinder spiritual growth.
Practical Application: Regularly examine your heart for any signs of pride, envy, or selfish ambition. Confess them to God and ask for His help to overcome them. Seek to live a life of humility and service to others.
Subtopic: The Battle Within
The conflict between the flesh and the Spirit is a central theme of Galatians 5. It is a battle that every Christian faces, and it is a battle that requires constant vigilance and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
- Recognize the Reality of the Struggle: Don’t be surprised or discouraged when you experience temptation or struggle with sin. This is a normal part of the Christian life.
- Identify Your Weaknesses: Be honest with yourself about the areas where you are most vulnerable to temptation.
- Cultivate Spiritual Disciplines: Prayer, Scripture reading, fasting, and participation in the sacraments are all essential tools for spiritual growth and victory over the flesh.
- Seek Accountability: Find a trusted friend or mentor who can provide support and encouragement in your struggle.
- Depend on the Holy Spirit: You cannot overcome the flesh on your own. Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you.
- Focus on Christ: Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. The more you focus on Him, the less power the flesh will have over you.
FAQ ❓
Q: What does it mean to “walk in the Spirit”?
A: To “walk in the Spirit” means to be guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit in all aspects of your life. It means allowing the Spirit to influence your thoughts, words, and actions, and to live in accordance with His will. It’s like letting the GPS of the Spirit direct your life’s journey. For more information on developing an impactful church presence, consider https://dohost.us/church-web-design/.
Q: How can I know if I am being led by the Spirit or by my own desires?
A: The fruit of the Spirit is a good indicator. If your actions are producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, it is likely that you are being led by the Spirit. Conversely, if your actions are producing the works of the flesh, it is likely that you are being led by your own desires.
Q: Does this mean that Christians will never sin?
A: No. Even after coming to Christ, we still struggle with our sinful nature. However, as we “walk in the Spirit,” we will experience a growing freedom from sin and a greater desire to please God.
Q: Is it possible to fall from grace, as mentioned in Galatians 5:4?
A: This verse is a warning against turning away from Christ and seeking justification through the Law. It does not necessarily mean that every believer who sins will lose their salvation. However, it is a serious warning against abandoning the Gospel and relying on works for salvation.
Conclusion
Galatians 5 presents us with a powerful choice: will we live in the bondage of legalism, striving to earn God’s favor through our own efforts? Or will we stand firm in the freedom that Christ has won for us, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out? The chapter urges us to choose the latter, to embrace the life of grace, to “walk in the Spirit,” and to allow the fruit of the Spirit to flourish in our lives. This is the path to true freedom, joy, and lasting peace. Let us heed Paul’s warning against returning to the “yoke of bondage” and instead, embrace the liberating power of the Gospel, trusting in Christ alone for our salvation. The message of Galatians 5 provides hope, and calls us to serve. It’s important to be prepared. To have an impactful presence, consider church website design.
Tags
Galatians 5, Freedom in Christ, Fruit of the Spirit, Works of the Flesh, Legalism, Holy Spirit, Grace, Coptic Orthodox, Theology, Bible Commentary
Meta Description
Explore Galatians 5: The definitive commentary from a Coptic Orthodox theologian. Understand true Freedom in Christ, the Holy Spirit, and contrast with the Works of the Flesh.