Galatians 5:16-26
Christian Standard Bible
The Spirit versus the Flesh
16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit(A) and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires(B) what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.(C) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious:[a] sexual immorality,(D) moral impurity,(E) promiscuity,(F) 20 idolatry,(G) sorcery,(H) hatreds,(I) strife,(J) jealousy,(K) outbursts of anger,(L) selfish ambitions,(M) dissensions,(N) factions,(O) 21 envy,[b](P) drunkenness, carousing,(Q) and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.(R)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit(S) is love,(T) joy,(U) peace, patience,(V) kindness,(W) goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness,(X) and self-control.(Y) The law is not against such things.[c] 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus(Z) have crucified the flesh(AA) with its passions and desires.(AB) 25 If we live(AC) by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.(AD)
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Galatians 5:16-26
New American Standard Bible
16 But I say, (A)walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out (B)the desire of the flesh. 17 For (C)the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, (D)in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. 18 But if you are (E)led by the Spirit, (F)you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: (G)sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, (H)witchcraft, hostilities, (I)strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, (J)selfish ambition, dissensions, (K)factions, 21 envy, (L)drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not (M)inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But (N)the fruit of the Spirit is (O)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, (P)self-control; against such things (Q)there is no law. 24 Now those who [a]belong to (R)Christ Jesus (S)crucified the flesh with its passions and (T)desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow (U)the Spirit as well. 26 Let’s not become (V)boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
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- Galatians 5:24 Lit are of Christ Jesus
Galatians 5:16-26
New English Translation
16 But I say, live[a] by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.[b] 17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires[c] that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to[d] each other, so that you cannot do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh[e] are obvious:[f] sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, 20 idolatry, sorcery,[g] hostilities,[h] strife,[i] jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions,[j] factions, 21 envying,[k] murder,[l] drunkenness, carousing,[m] and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!
22 But the fruit of the Spirit[n] is love,[o] joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,[p] 23 gentleness, and[q] self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ[r] have crucified the flesh[s] with its passions[t] and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with[u] the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,[v] provoking[w] one another, being jealous[x] of one another.
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- Galatians 5:16 tn Grk “walk” (a common NT idiom for how one conducts one’s life or how one behaves).
- Galatians 5:16 tn On the term “flesh” (once in this verse and twice in v. 17) see the note on the same word in Gal 5:13.
- Galatians 5:17 tn The words “has desires” do not occur in the Greek text a second time, but are repeated in the translation for clarity.
- Galatians 5:17 tn Or “are hostile toward” (L&N 39.1).
- Galatians 5:19 tn See the note on the word “flesh” in Gal 5:13.
- Galatians 5:19 tn Or “clear,” “evident.”
- Galatians 5:20 tn Or “witchcraft.”
- Galatians 5:20 tn Or “enmities,” “[acts of] hatred.”
- Galatians 5:20 tn Or “discord” (L&N 39.22).
- Galatians 5:20 tn Or “discord(s)” (L&N 39.13).
- Galatians 5:21 tn This term is plural in Greek (as is “murder” and “carousing”), but for clarity these abstract nouns have been translated as singular.
- Galatians 5:21 tc ‡ φόνοι (phonoi, “murders”) is absent in such significant mss as P46 א B 33 81 323 945 sa, while the majority of mss (A C D F G Ψ 0122 0278 1175 1241 1505 1739 1881 2464 M lat bo) have the word. Although the pedigree of the mss which lack the term is of the highest degree, homoioteleuton may explain the shorter reading. The preceding word has merely one letter difference, making it quite possible to overlook this term (φθόνοι φόνοι, phthonoi phonoi). At the same time, φθόνου φόνου (phthonou phonou, “envy, murder”) is solidly attested in Rom 1:29, suggesting that scribes were not necessarily prone to dropping “murder” accidentally. A decision is difficult, with a slight preference for phonoi here.
- Galatians 5:21 tn Or “revelings,” “orgies” (L&N 88.287).
- Galatians 5:22 tn That is, the fruit the Spirit produces.
- Galatians 5:22 sn Another way to punctuate this is “love” followed by a colon (love: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). It is thus possible to read the eight characteristics following “love” as defining love.
- Galatians 5:22 tn Or “reliability”; see BDAG 818 s.v. πίστις 1.a.
- Galatians 5:23 tn “And” is supplied here as a matter of English style, which normally inserts “and” between the last two elements of a list or series.
- Galatians 5:24 tc ‡ Some mss (א A B C P Ψ 01221 0278 33 1175 1241 1739 1881 co) read “Christ Jesus” here, while many significant ones (P46 D F G 0122*,2 1505 2464 latt sy), as well as the Byzantine text, lack “Jesus.” The Byzantine text is especially not prone to omit the name “Jesus”; that it does so here argues for the authenticity of the shorter reading (for similar instances of probably authentic Byzantine shorter readings, see Matt 24:36 and Phil 1:14; cf. also W.-H. J. Wu, “A Systematic Analysis of the Shorter Readings in the Byzantine Text of the Synoptic Gospels” [Ph.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 2002]). On the strength of the alignment of P46 with the Western and Byzantine text-groups, the shorter reading is preferred. NA28 includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
- Galatians 5:24 tn See the note on the word “flesh” in Gal 5:13.
- Galatians 5:24 tn The Greek term παθήμασιν (pathēmasin, translated “passions”) refers to strong physical desires, especially of a sexual nature (L&N 25.30).
- Galatians 5:25 tn Or “let us also follow,” “let us also walk by.”
- Galatians 5:26 tn Or “falsely proud.”
- Galatians 5:26 tn Or “irritating.” BDAG 871 s.v. προκαλέω has “provoke, challenge τινά someone.”
- Galatians 5:26 tn Or “another, envying one another.”
Colossians 3:1-17
Christian Standard Bible
The Life of the New Man
3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.(A) 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.(B) 3 For you died,(C) and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears,(D) then you also will appear with him in glory.(E)
5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,(F) lust,(G) evil desire, and greed,(H) which is idolatry.(I) 6 Because of these, God’s wrath(J) is coming upon the disobedient,[b] 7 and you once walked in these things when you were living(K) in them. 8 But now, put away(L) all the following: anger,(M) wrath,(N) malice,(O) slander,(P) and filthy language from your mouth.(Q) 9 Do not lie(R) to one another, since you have put off(S) the old self(T) with its practices 10 and have put on(U) the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your[c] Creator.(V) 11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.(W)
The Christian Life
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved,(X) put on compassion, kindness,(Y) humility,(Z) gentleness,(AA) and patience,(AB) 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.(AC) 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called(AD) in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,[d] singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name(AE) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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Colossians 3:1-17
New American Standard Bible
Put On the New Self
3 Therefore, if you have been (A)raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, (B)seated at the right hand of God. 2 [a](C)Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have (D)died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, (E)who is our life, is revealed, (F)then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 (G)Therefore, [b]treat (H)the parts of your earthly body as dead to (I)sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which [c]amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that (J)the wrath of God is coming [d]upon the [e]sons of disobedience, 7 and (K)in them you also once walked, when you were living [f]in them. 8 But now you also, (L)rid yourselves of all of them: (M)anger, wrath, malice, slander, and (N)obscene speech from your mouth. 9 [g](O)Do not lie to one another, since you (P)stripped off the old [h]self with its evil practices, 10 and have (Q)put on the new self, which is being [i](R)renewed to a true knowledge (S)according to the image of the One who (T)created it— 11 a renewal in which (U)there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, (V)circumcised and uncircumcised, [j](W)barbarian, [k]Scythian, (X)slave, and free, but (Y)Christ is all, and in all.
12 So, as those who have been (Z)chosen of God, holy and beloved, (AA)put on a (AB)heart of compassion, kindness, (AC)humility, gentleness, and [l](AD)patience; 13 (AE)bearing with one another, and (AF)forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; (AG)just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. 14 In addition to all these things put on love, which is [m](AH)the perfect bond of (AI)unity. 15 Let (AJ)the peace of Christ, to which you were [n]indeed called in (AK)one body, [o]rule in your hearts; and [p]be thankful. 16 Let (AL)the word of [q]Christ richly dwell within you, [r]with all wisdom (AM)teaching and admonishing [s]one another (AN)with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, (AO)singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 (AP)Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, (AQ)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
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- Colossians 3:2 Or Be intent on
- Colossians 3:5 Lit put to death the parts of your body which are upon the earth
- Colossians 3:5 Lit is
- Colossians 3:6 Two early mss do not contain upon the sons of disobedience
- Colossians 3:6 I.e., people opposed to God
- Colossians 3:7 Or among these
- Colossians 3:9 Or Stop lying
- Colossians 3:9 Lit person
- Colossians 3:10 Lit renovated
- Colossians 3:11 I.e., uncultured
- Colossians 3:11 I.e., a member of an ancient people near the Black Sea, often considered unrefined
- Colossians 3:12 I.e., forbearance toward others
- Colossians 3:14 Lit the uniting bond of perfection
- Colossians 3:15 Or also
- Colossians 3:15 Or be in control in
- Colossians 3:15 Or show yourselves thankful
- Colossians 3:16 One early ms the Lord
- Colossians 3:16 Or in
- Colossians 3:16 Or one another, singing with psalms...
Colossians 3:1-17
New English Translation
Exhortations to Seek the Things Above
3 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ (who is your[a] life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. 5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth:[b] sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion,[c] evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.[d] 7 You also lived your lives[e] in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. 8 But now, put off all such things[f] as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 10 and have been clothed with the new man[g] that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave[h] or free, but Christ is all and in all.
Exhortation to Unity and Love
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy,[i] kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving[j] one another, if someone happens to have[k] a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.[l] 14 And to all these[m] virtues[n] add[o] love, which is the perfect bond.[p] 15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body[q] to this peace), and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ[r] dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace[s] in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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- Colossians 3:4 tc Certain mss (B[*] D1 H 0278 1175 1505 1739 2464 M sy sa) read ἡμῶν (hēmōn, “our”), while others (P46 א C D* F G P Ψ 075 33 81 1881 al latt bo) read ὑμῶν (humōn, “your”). Internally, it is possible that the second person pronoun arose through scribal conformity to the second person pronoun used previously in v. 3 (ὑμῶν) and following in v. 4 (ὑμεῖς, humeis). But in terms of external criteria, the second person pronoun has superior ms support (though there is an Alexandrian split) and ἡμῶν may have arisen through accident (error of sight) or scribal attempt to universalize the statement since all Christians have Jesus as their life. See TCGNT 557.
- Colossians 3:5 tn Grk “the members which are on the earth.” See BDAG 628 s.v. μέλος 1, “put to death whatever in you is worldly.”
- Colossians 3:5 tn Or “lust.”
- Colossians 3:6 tc The words ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας (epi tous huious tēs apeitheias, “on the sons of disobedience”) are lacking in P46 B b sa Cl Ambst Hier, but are found in א A C D F G H I Ψ 075 0278 33 1175 1505 1739 1881 2464 M lat sy bo. The words are omitted by several English translations (NASB, NIV, ESV, TNIV). This textual problem is quite difficult to resolve. On the one hand, the parallel account in Eph 5:6 has these words, thus providing scribes a motive for adding them here. On the other hand, the reading without the words may be too hard: The ἐν οἷς (en |ois) of v. 7 seems to have no antecedent without υἱούς already in the text, although it could possibly be construed as neuter referring to the vice list in v. 5. Further, although the witness of B is especially significant, there are other places in which B and P46 share errant readings of omission. Nevertheless, the strength of the internal evidence against the longer reading is at least sufficient to cause doubt here. The decision to retain the words in the text is less than certain. sn The expression sons of disobedience is a Semitic idiom that means “people characterized by disobedience.” In this context it refers to “all those who are disobedient.” Cf. Eph 5:6.
- Colossians 3:7 tn Grk “you also walked.” The verb περιπατέω (peripateō) is commonly used in the NT to refer to behavior or conduct of one’s life (L&N 41.11).
- Colossians 3:8 tn The Greek article with τὰ πάντα (ta panta) is anaphoric, referring to the previous list of vices, and has been translated here as “all such things.”
- Colossians 3:10 sn Put off all such things. The commands in vv. 8-9 are based on two reasons given in vv. 9-10—reasons which are expressed in terms of a metaphor about clothing oneself. Paul says that they have put off the old man and have put on the new man. Two things need to be discussed in reference to Paul’s statement. (1) What is the meaning of the clothing imagery (i.e., the “have put off” and “have been clothed”)? (2) What is the meaning of the old man and the new man? Though some commentators understand the participles “have put off” (v. 9) and “have been clothed” (v. 10) as imperatives (i.e., “put off!” and “put on!”), this use of participles is extremely rare in the NT and thus unlikely here. It is better to take them as having the semantic force of indicatives, and thus they give an explanation of what had happened to the Colossians at the time of their conversion—they had taken off the old man and put on the new when they trusted in Christ (cf. 1:4). While it is difficult to say for certain what the background to Paul’s “clothing” metaphor might be (whether it is primarily Jewish and comes from the OT, or primarily Gentile and comes from some facet of the Greco-Roman religious milieu), it is nonetheless clear, on the basis of Paul’s usage of the expression, that the old man refers to man as he is in Adam and dominated by sin (cf. Rom 6:6; Eph 4:22), while the new man refers to the Christian whose new sphere of existence is in Christ. Though the metaphor of clothing oneself primarily reflects outward actions, there is a distinct inward aspect to it, as the rest of v. 10 indicates: being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. Paul’s point, then, is that Christians should take off their dirty clothing (inappropriate behavior) and put on clean clothing (behavior consistent with knowing Christ) because this has already been accomplished in a positional sense at the time of their conversion (cf. Gal 3:27 with Rom 13:14).
- Colossians 3:11 tn See the note on “fellow slave” in 1:7.
- Colossians 3:12 tn If the genitive construct σπλάγχνα οἰκτιρμοῦ (splanchna oiktirmou) is a hendiadys then it would be “compassion” or “tenderheartedness.” See M. J. Harris, Colossians and Philemon (EGGNT), 161.
- Colossians 3:13 tn For the translation of χαριζόμενοι (charizomenoi) as “forgiving,” see BDAG 1078 s.v. χαρίζομαι 3. The two participles “bearing” (ἀνεχόμενοι, anechomenoi) and “forgiving” (χαριζόμενοι) express the means by which the action of the finite verb “clothe yourselves” is to be carried out.
- Colossians 3:13 tn Grk “if someone has”; the term “happens,” though not in the Greek text, is inserted to bring out the force of the third class condition.
- Colossians 3:13 tn The expression “forgive others” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. It is included in the translation to make the sentence complete and more comprehensible to the English reader.
- Colossians 3:14 tn BDAG 365 s.v. ἐπί 7 suggests “to all these” as a translation for ἐπὶ πᾶσιν δὲ τούτοις (epi pasin de toutois).
- Colossians 3:14 tn The term “virtues” is not in the Greek text, but is included in the translation to specify the antecedent and to make clear the sense of the pronoun “these.”
- Colossians 3:14 tn The verb “add,” though not in the Greek text, is implied, picking up the initial imperative “clothe yourselves.”
- Colossians 3:14 tn The genitive τῆς τελειότητος (tēs teleiotētos) has been translated as an attributive genitive, “the perfect bond.”
- Colossians 3:15 tn Grk “in one body.” This phrase emphasizes the manner in which the believers were called, not the goal of their calling, and focuses upon their unity.
- Colossians 3:16 tc Since “the word of Christ” occurs nowhere else in the NT, two predictable variants arose: “word of God” and “word of the Lord.” Even though some of the witnesses for these variants are impressive (κυρίου [kuriou, “of the Lord”] in א* I 1175 bo Cl; θεοῦ [theou, “of God”] in A C* 33 104 323 945 al), the reading Χριστοῦ (Christou, “of Christ”) is read by an excellent cross-section of witnesses (P46 א2 B C2 D F G Ψ 075 1505 1739 1881 2464 M lat sa). On both internal and external grounds, Χριστοῦ is strongly preferred.
- Colossians 3:16 tn Grk “with grace”; “all” is supplied as it is implicitly related to all the previous instructions in the verse.
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