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Pauline Letters · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Galatians 5

Paul defends justification by faith and freedom that bears the Spirit's fruit.

New Testament

Galatians 5

1Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

2Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.

3Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.

5For we through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision amounts to anything, but faith working through love.

7You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?

8This persuasion is not from him who calls you.

9A little yeast grows through the whole lump.

10I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.

11But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.

12I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.

13For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

15But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.

16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,

20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,

21envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

25If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

26Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Paul defends justification by faith and freedom that bears the Spirit's fruit. Read Galatians 5 within the complete Galatians overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Galatians 5

Galatians 5 contains 26 verses and about 424 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 26 closes: “Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include spirit, flesh, another, christ, circumcision, will. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Galatians 5

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Galatians 5:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer