Galatians – Chapter Five XXIX

by Ed Urzi

“Now the works of the flesh are obvious… idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions” (Galatians 5:19-20 HCSB).

The “works of the flesh” that emerge from Galatians 5:19-21 approach us one after the other, much like the continuous stream of parts that flow down the conveyor belt of an assembly line. The next item in this list of behaviors is hatred (NIV), a word that is also translated as quarrels (Mounce), enmity (ESV), and hostilities (NET).

This word expresses more than just a simple disagreement or difference of opinion. When used in this context, it communicates the idea of contentious hostility towards someone or something else. It also conveys a sense of antagonism, dislike, and mutual opposition between two or more people. “Hatred” represents the kind of resentment and opposition that builds towards an aggressive conflict.

One commentator offers the following insight into this idea…

“(H)atred is the inner motivation for the ill treatment of others. Just as love is the inner motivation for the kind and good treatment of others, hatred is an inner motivation. Laws can be passed to punish the evil that men do against each other; but no law can answer the problem of hatred, which motivates those acts.” (1)

Next comes strife (ASV) and jealousy (CSB). Strife refers to the contention, rivalry, and discord we sometimes experience with others. The New Testament letter of 1 Timothy tells us that it is possible to identify the presence of strife in some relationships and trace it back to the existence of pride and ignorance (see 1 Timothy 6:3-5). Jealousy is a characteristic of those who possess an intense desire to possess something (or someone) that belongs to someone else. It can also refer to a feeling of disapproval when others are blessed or successful.

Outbursts of anger” speaks of a sudden, uncontrolled expression of rage. Then there are “selfish ambitions,” a phrase that refers to the “…self-seeking that engenders antagonism and factionalism. The Gr. word came to describe anyone who entered politics for selfish reasons and sought to achieve his agenda at any cost (i.e., even if that meant trampling on others).” (2)

Galatians 5:20 then closes with dissensions followed by factions. The first term refers to “a standing apart” (3) while the second identifies those who splinter into opposing groups. These represented the kinds of attitudes that prompted the warning of Romans 16:7: “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”

However, there is another way to define the idea of “factions” and we’ll examine that concept in greater detail next.

(1) Guzik, David Galatians 5 – Standing Fast In the Liberty of Jesus © Copyright – Enduring Word https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/galatians-5/

(2) MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Jas 3:14). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

(3) dichostasía (G1370) Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for ‘Sedition’. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/ved/s/sedition.html. 1940.