Galatians – Chapter Five XXVII

by Ed Urzi

“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity” (Galatians 5:19 NET).

The next item on this list of “works of the flesh” is depravity. Biblical translators have used several different English words and phrases to help communicate the idea behind this word. Some of those renderings include…

  • indecency (CJB).
  • promiscuity (GW, HCSB).
  • unbridled lust (Voice).
  • shameful deeds (CEV).
  • debauchery (Mounce, NIV).
  • lasciviousness (ASV, KJV).
  • eagerness for lustful pleasure (TLB).
  • sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control) (AMP).

However, there is another Biblical translation of this word that may be more accessible to contemporary audiences. That word is licentiousness (RSV). Although “licentiousness” is a not a word that is widely used today, the basic idea behind this term should be quite familiar to 21st century readers. For instance, many of us are acquainted with the modern-day concept of a license. A license is a type of permit that provides the authorization to lawfully engage in an act or activity.

With this in mind, let’s consider a situation where an unlicensed person engages in a licensed activity. In this example, we can say that such a person is acting licentiously. In other words, he or she is unlawfully acting without a valid license. While an unlicensed person may be able to engage in a licensed activity without getting caught (at least for a while), no one gets away with such behavior forever. As we’re reminded in Romans 2:6, “God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done'” (NIV).

Of course, someone might respond by saying, “I do whatever comes naturally to me. No one requires a license to do what comes naturally.” While this may seem to be a valid argument, its important to remember that “natural” doesn’t always mean lawful or right. For example, we might be naturally inclined to strike out at those who verbally offend us. However, most jurisdictions recognize that kind of response as an illegal assault and a violation of the law. In that scenario, our natural inclinations are unlicensed, so to speak.

The Scriptures associate these natural inclinations with the idea of “the flesh” (as seen in the passage quoted above), the “sinful nature” (NLT), or unregenerate “human nature” (GNT). If left unrestrained by cultural pressures, societal norms, human government, or spiritual regeneration, human beings will naturally gravitate towards such expressions for “what we are” largely determines what we do.