translator Translate | Spanish German Chinese Japanese



Works of the Flesh and Fruit of the Spirit

(Gal 5:16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
(Gal 5:17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
(Gal 5:18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
(Gal 5:19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
(Gal 5:20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
(Gal 5:21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(Gal 5:22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(Gal 5:23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(Gal 5:24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
(Gal 5:25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Jesus says in John 3:6, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit". As Isaiah tells us in 64:6, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away". The works of the flesh bring nothing good.

Works of the Flesh Fruit of the Spirit
Sins
of
Impurity		 Adultery (Greek: moicheia], i.e., sexual relations of a married person with someone other than his or her spouse (Exodus20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 5:31-32); Virtues
in
relation
to
God		 Love (Greek: agape), i.e., a caring and seeking for the highest good of another person without motive for personal gain.
Fornication (Greek: pomeia), i.e., immoral sexual conduct and intercourse; it includes taking pleasure in pornographic pictures, films, or writing (Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Acts 15:20,29; 21:25; I Corinthians 5:1); Joy (Greek: chara), i.e., the feeling of gladness based on the love, grace, blessings, promises, and nearness of God that belong to those who believe in Christ (Psalm 119:16; II Corinthians 6:10; 12:9; I Peter 1:8).
Uncleanness (Greek: akatharsia), i.e., sexual sins, evil deeds, and vices, including thoughts and desires of the heart (Eph. 5:3; Colossians 3:5); Peace (Greek: eirene), i.e., the quietness of heart
Lasciviousness (Greek: aselgeia), i.e., sensuality, following one's passions and desires to the point of having no shame or public decency, lustful, lewd (II Corinthians 12:21); Virtues
in
relation
to
others		 Longsuffering (Greek: makrothumia], i.e., endurance, patience, being slow to anger or despair (Ephesians 4:2; II Timothy 3:10; Hebrews 12:1)
Sins
of
Idolatry		 Idolatry (Greek: eidololatria eidololatria), i.e., worship of spirits, persons, or graven images, also trust in any person, institution, or thing as having equal or greater authority than God and His Word (Colossians 3:5); Gentleness (Greek: chrestotes), i.e., not wanting to hurt someone or give him or her pain.
Witchcraft (Greek: pharmakeia pharmakeia}, i.e., sorcery, spiritism, black magic, worship of demons, and use of drugs to produce "spiritual" experiences (Exodus 7:11,22; 8:18; Revelation 9:21; 18:23); Goodness (Greek: agathosune), i.e., zeal for truth and righteousness and a hatred for evil; it can be expressed in acts of kindness or in rebuking and correcting evil.
Sins
of
Hostility		 Hatred (Greek: echthra), i.e., intense, hostile intentions and acts, extreme dislike or enmity; Virtues
in
relation
to
oneself		 Faith (Greek: pistis), i.e., faithfulness, firm and unswerving loyalty and adherence to a person to whom one is united by promise, commitment, trustworthiness, and honesty (Matthew 23:23; I Timothy 6:12; II Timothy 2:2; 4:7).
Variance (Greek: eris eris), i.e., quarreling, antagonism, a struggle for superiority, not agreeing when you should; (Romans 1:29; I Corinthians 1:11; 3:3); Meekness (Greek: prautes], i.e., restraint coupled with strength and courage; it describes a person who can be angry when anger is needed and humbly submissive when submission is needed (II Timothy 2:25; I Peter 3:15).
Emulations (Greek: zelos}, i.e., resentfulness, envy of another's success, jealous rivalry, ambition or endeavor to equal or excel others (Romans 13:13; I Corinthians 3:3); Temperance (Greek: egkrateia), i.e., having control or mastery over one's own desires and passions, including faithfulness to one's marriage vows; also purity, chastity (I Corinthians 9:25; Tit. 1:8; 2:5).
Wrath (Greek: thumos], i.e., explosive anger or rage which flares into violent words and deeds (Colossians 3:8);
Strife (Greek: eritheia eritheia), i.e., selfish ambition and seeking of power (II Corinthians 12:20; Philemon 1:16-17);
Seditions (Greek: dichostasia), i.e., introducing divisive teachings not supported by the Word of God, speech or behavior directed against the peace of a state (Romans 16:17);
Heresies (Greek: hairesis hairesis], i.e., division within the congregation into selfish groups or cliques, which destroy the unity of the church (I Corinthians 11:19);
Envyings (Greek: phthonos), i.e., resentful dislike of another person who has something that one desires;
Murders (Greek: phonos), i.e., killing a person unlawfully and with malice;
Sins
of
Intemperance		 Drunkenness (Greek: methe], i.e., impairing one's mental or physical control by alcoholic drink;
Revellings (Greek: komos), i.e., excessive feasting, revelry, a party spirit involving alcohol, drugs, sex, or the like.
Recommended reading for further study: