“What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions” (Galatians 5:19 GNB).
The modern-day world of the 21st century differs greatly from the world that existed at the time of Paul the Apostle’s letter to the churches of Galatia. But despite the incredible advancements in technology, architecture, travel, and communication that have taken place over the past twenty centuries, it seems that people haven’t changed much, at least in certain areas.
Consider the observations of one source in commenting on the list of characteristics given to us here in Galatian 5:19…
“These are all sensual sins, relating to sex. We are often appalled at the sexual immorality of our day, but we should remember that the times Paul wrote in were as bad if not worse. ‘There is ample evidence to show that the sexual life of the Greco-Roman world at the time of the New Testament was sheer chaos. Such evidence has come not from Christian writers but from pagans who were disgusted with the unspeakable sexual immorality.'” (1)
Therefore, we should not be surprised to find that sexual immorality (ESV) represents the first item on this list of works of the flesh. This phrase is translated from the Greek word porneia, the word from which we derive our modern-day concept of “pornography.” This word serves to identify various forms of Biblically inappropriate sexual behaviors including adulterous relationships, sexual relationships between singles, and homosexual relationships, among others. Jesus also expanded this definition to include internal expressions of sexual immorality as well (see Matthew 5:27-28).
The next item is impurity (ESV) or uncleaness (ASV). In a Biblical sense, these terms serve to identify those who act with immoral motives. While “uncleaness” is primarily associated with our internal thought life, this concept might also be applied to the inappropriate words or acts that proceed from those thoughts as well.
Its interesting to note that extra-biblical references to this idea involved tenants who were responsible for keeping a home in good condition. (2) So just as the external evidence of a dirty home reflects poorly on the internal priorities of a tenant or owner, the external actions associated with an impure thought life reflect poorly upon the individual. This brings to mind something Jesus once said as recorded in the gospel of Luke…
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45 NIV).
(1) Fung, Ronald Y. K. The Epistle to the Galatians quoted in Guzik, David Galatians 5 – Standing Fast In the Liberty of Jesus © Copyright – Enduring Word https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/galatians-5/
(2) akatharsia (G167) Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for ‘Unclean’. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/ved/u/unclean.html. 1940.