Galater 5:20

witchcraft--sorcery; prevalent in Asia (Act 19:19; compare Rev. 21). hatred--Greek, "hatreds." variance--Greek, "strife"; singular in the oldest manuscripts. emulations--in the oldest manuscripts, singular--"emulation," or rather, "jealousy"; for the sake of one's own advantage. "Envyings" (Gal 5:21) are even without advantage to the person himself [BENGEL]. wrath--Greek, plural, "passionate outbreaks" [ALFORD]. strife--rather as Greek, "factions," "cabals"; derived from a Greek root, meaning "a worker for hire": hence, unworthy means for compassing ends, factious practices. seditions--"dissensions," as to secular matters. heresies--as to sacred things (see on Co1 11:19). Self-constituted parties; from a Greek root, to choose. A schism is a more recent split in a congregation from a difference of opinion. Heresy is a schism become inveterate [AUGUSTINE, Con. Crescon. Don., 2,7].

In this chapter the apostle comes to make application of his foregoing discourse. He begins it with a general caution, or exhortation (Gal 5:1), which he afterwards enforces by several considerations (Gal 5:2-12). He then presses them to serious practical godliness, which would be the best antidote against the snares of their false teachers; particularly, I. That they should not strive with one another (Gal 5:13-15). II. That they would strive against sin, where he shows, 1. That there is in every one a struggle between flesh and spirit (Gal 5:17). 2. That it is our duty and interest, in this struggle, to side with the better part (Gal 5:16, Gal 5:18). 3. He specifies the works of the flesh, which must be watched against and mortified, and the fruits of the Spirit, which must be brought forth and cherished, and shows of what importance it is that they be so (Gal 5:19-24). And then concludes the chapter with a caution against pride and envy.

5:20 Idolatry, the worship of false gods, was common in Galatia and was often accompanied by sorcery (see Acts 19:19; cp. 1 Sam 15:23; Rev 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15) and sexual immorality (cp. 1 Cor 6:9, 15-20). • Hostility arises from angry pride rather than the Spirit’s humility and love (Gal 5:22-23). • Quarreling refers not to standing up for what is right, but to stirring up discord and looking for a fight (1 Cor 3:3; 2 Cor 12:20; 1 Tim 6:4; Titus 3:9). Those who are guided by the Holy Spirit seek to speak the truth in love with a peacemaking attitude (Gal 5:22; Eph 4:15; 2 Tim 2:23-26). • Jealousy (Greek zēlos, “zeal”) has both a positive sense (“passionate commitment”) and, as here, a negative one (“intense desire for another’s things”); cp. Jas 3:14-16. • Outbursts of anger (or fits of rage) contrast with self-control (Gal 5:23; see, e.g., Acts 19:28; 2 Cor 12:20; 1 Tim 3:3; Titus 1:7). • Selfish ambition (or Selfishness) is the antithesis of Christian love (cp. Rom 2:8; Phil 2:3; Jas 3:14, 16). • Division (Greek haireseis, “heresies, factions, sects”) refers to people using differing beliefs or practices to divide the community (cp. 1 Cor 11:17-19; 2 Pet 2:1-3).