Bible / Galatians
Galatians 5
World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision, the traditional Catholic English Bible. About the translations
1 Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
3 Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is a debtor to do the whole law. CCC
4 You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision amounts to anything, but faith working through love. 1 CCC
7 You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
9 A little yeast grows through the whole lump.
10 I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.
12 I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.
13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. CCC
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. CCC
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, CCC · Fathers
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, CCC
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. CCC
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, CCC · Fathers
23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. CCC
24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. CCC
25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. CCC
26 Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.
1 Stand fast and be not held again under the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul tell you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 And I testify again to every man circumcising himself that he is a debtor to do the whole law. CCC
4 You are made void of Christ, you who are justified in the law: you are fallen from grace.
5 For we in spirit, by faith, wait for the hope of justice.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision: but faith that worketh by Charity. 1 CCC
7 You did run well. What hath hindered you, that you should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion is not from him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven corrupteth the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will not be of another mind: but he that troubleth you shall bear the judgment, whosoever he be.
11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the scandal of the cross made void.
12 I would they were even cut off, who trouble you.
13 For you, brethren, have been called unto liberty. Only make not liberty an occasion to the flesh: but by charity of the spirit serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if you bite and devour one another: take heed you be not consumed one of another.
16 I say then: Walk in the spirit: and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. CCC
17 For the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and the spirit against the flesh: For these are contrary one to another: so that you do not the things that you would. CCC
18 But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest: which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, CCC · Fathers
20 Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, CCC
21 Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God. CCC
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, CCC · Fathers
23 Mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law. CCC
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences. CCC
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. CCC
26 Let us not be made desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Where our lessons quote this chapter
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
Read the Catechism
- CCC 578 “Jesus, Israel's Messiah and therefore the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, was to fulfil the Law by keeping it in its…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2515 “Etymologically, "concupiscence" can refer to any intense form of human desire. Christian theology has given it a particular meaning: the movement of…”
- CCC 2744 “Prayer is a vital necessity. Proof from the contrary is no less convincing: if we do not allow the Spirit to lead…”
- CCC 2819 “The kingdom of God (is) righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." The end-time in which we live is the…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2515 “Etymologically, "concupiscence" can refer to any intense form of human desire. Christian theology has given it a particular meaning: the movement of…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1470 “In this sacrament, the sinner, placing himself before the merciful judgment of God, anticipates in a certain way the judgment to which…”
- CCC 1852 “There are a great many kinds of sins. Scripture provides several lists of them. the Letter to the Galatians contrasts the works…”
“animosities, irritable speeches, dissensions, heresies, envyings, drunkenness, carousings, and such like; of which I warn you, as also I have warned you, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1470 “In this sacrament, the sinner, placing himself before the merciful judgment of God, anticipates in a certain way the judgment to which…”
- CCC 1852 “There are a great many kinds of sins. Scripture provides several lists of them. the Letter to the Galatians contrasts the works…”
- CCC 2113 “Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not…”
Read the Catechism
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 736 “By this power of the Spirit, God's children can bear much fruit. He who has grafted us onto the true vine will…”
- CCC 1108 “In every liturgical action the Holy Spirit is sent in order to bring us into communion with Christ and so to form…”
- CCC 1695 “Justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God," "sanctified . . . (and) called…”
- CCC 1832 “The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. the…”
“… again, he proceeds to tell us the spiritual actions which vivify a man, that is, the engrafting of the Spirit; thus saying, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, benignity, faith, meekness, continence, chastity: against these there is no law.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
Read the Catechism
- CCC 736 “By this power of the Spirit, God's children can bear much fruit. He who has grafted us onto the true vine will…”
- CCC 782 “The People of God is marked by characteristics that clearly distinguish it from all other religious, ethnic, political, or cultural groups found…”
- CCC 1695 “Justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God," "sanctified . . . (and) called…”
- CCC 2516 “Because man is a composite being, spirit and body, there already exists a certain tension in him; a certain struggle of tendencies…”
- CCC 2842 “This "as" is not unique in Jesus' teaching: "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect"; "Be merciful, even…”
- CCC 2848 “Lead us not into temptation" implies a decision of the heart: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also....…”