Galatians 5:19-20
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The text calls these "works of the flesh," emphasizing that they are concrete actions, not just internal thoughts. Paul uses "works" (plural) because these actions are often disjointed and even contradictory, revealing their origin from a fallen human nature rather than a unified, harmonious Spirit.
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is contrasting the life led by God's Spirit with the life dominated by sinful human nature, often called "the flesh." He's explaining that those who claim to be led by the Spirit should demonstrate it by a life distinct from the obvious sins that flow from our fallen nature. This list, which he begins here, serves as a clear diagnostic tool to discern where one's life is truly originating from.
Paul doesn't beat around the bush here. He names 'works of the flesh' that are unmistakable. What does it mean for these actions to be 'evident'?
When Paul says the 'works of the flesh are evident,' he's telling us that the inner rebellion against God (which he calls 'the flesh') doesn't stay hidden. It shows itself through specific actions, like the ones listed. These aren't secret sins only God sees; they are actions that become apparent, often in ways that harm ourselves and others. This isn't just about outward actions; it points to a deeper corruption within human nature that rebels against God's design. The list that follows isn't exhaustive but serves as a clear indicator of this fleshly rebellion.
Think of it like a visible symptom of an underlying illness. The 'works' are the symptoms that reveal the deeper condition of the 'flesh' – our fallen human nature, estranged from God.
We often think of 'works of the flesh' as purely sexual sins. But Paul's list and the underlying meaning of 'flesh' go much deeper.
The terms Paul uses here – 'sexual immorality' (or fornication), 'impurity,' and 'sensuality' (or lasciviousness) – point to a range of sexual sins. However, the concept of 'the flesh' in Paul's writings is much broader than just sexual desire. It refers to our entire human nature as it is estranged from God, influenced by sin, and inclined to rebellion. This is why later in this chapter, Paul lists other 'works of the flesh' like 'hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, envy,' and 'drunkenness.' These are not directly sexual but are still expressions of a life lived apart from the Spirit's control.
So, while the specific sins mentioned in this verse are intensely physical, they are symptoms of a deeper spiritual condition: a life dominated by self and its desires, rather than by God and His will. The 'flesh' is our fallen human nature that acts independently of, or in opposition to, God.
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Understand the original words
porneia · Greek Noun
General term for sexual sin, including any sexual activity outside the bounds of the biblical covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.
akatharsia · Greek Noun
Moral and spiritual uncleanness, specifically referring to that which makes one unfit for the presence of a holy God.
aselgeia · Greek Noun
Lack of moral restraint; lewdness or unbridled lust that ignores social standards and God's moral law.
eidōlolatreia · Greek Noun
The worship of created things or images instead of the Creator; anything that takes the place of God as the ultimate object of trust or devotion.
pharmakeia · Greek Noun
Literally 'pharmakeia' (use of drugs); in biblical context, it refers to witchcraft, occult practices, or the use of charms and spells to manipulate spiritual or natural reality.
echthra · Greek Noun
Hostility or deep-seated hatred; being an enemy of someone, which is the opposite of the commanded love for one's neighbor.
eris · Greek Noun
Conflict, contention, or arguing; a spirit of self-assertion that leads to interpersonal friction and disorder.
zēlos · Greek Noun
The painful awareness of another's advantage or possession, often coupled with a desire to take it away or to see the other person deprived.
thymos · Greek Noun
Sudden outbursts of temper or explosive rage; the lack of emotional self-control.
eritheia · Greek Noun
Selfish ambition; the pursuit of one's own agenda or advancement through manipulation or partisan interest.
dichostasia · Greek Noun
The act of causing factions, discord, or schisms within the body of believers; promoting unauthorized separate groups.
hairesis · Greek Noun
Parties, sects, or factions; creating divisive cliques within the church that destroy unity.
The context of Galatians reveals a tension between Jewish legalism and the freedom found in Christ. Paul lists 'works of the flesh' not just as personal sins, but as behaviors that undermine the very essence of a life transformed by faith, particularly when contrasted with the requirement to abandon their former pagan lifestyles.
c. 49 AD
Council of Jerusalem
A crucial meeting where the apostles and elders debated whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish law, including circumcision. The council decided that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not adherence to the Mosaic Law, which directly impacts the context of Paul's argument in Galatians.
c. 50-52 AD
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
During his third missionary journey, Paul spent a significant amount of time in Ephesus, a major Gentile city in Asia Minor known for its syncretistic religious practices and moral laxity. This period likely informed his understanding of the challenges faced by churches in such cultural contexts.
c. 53-55 AD— this verse
Writing of the Letter to the Galatians
Paul likely penned this letter to the churches in the region of Galatia to address a crisis where Judaizers were insisting Gentile believers follow Jewish customs and laws for salvation. He strongly asserts that justification comes by faith in Jesus Christ alone, contrasting this with the 'works of the flesh.'
c. 56-57 AD
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
While in Corinth, a city notorious for its sexual immorality, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians. His discussions of sin and holiness in that letter, particularly concerning sexual sin, echo the concerns he addresses in Galatians, highlighting the pervasive nature of these issues in the early church.
This passage directly parallels the idea of 'uncleanness' by describing God giving people over to impurity due to their lusts, highlighting the deep-seated nature of these desires.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10This text lists similar 'works of the flesh,' explicitly stating that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God, underscoring the severity and consequence of these actions.
Ephesians 5:3-4This passage elaborates on the themes of sexual immorality and impurity, warning believers against them and contrasting them with fitting language for saints, showing the unsuitability of such acts for God's people.
Matthew 5:27-28Jesus expands the definition of sexual sin beyond the act itself to include lustful looking, connecting the inner thought (flesh) to the outward behavior, which aligns with Paul's listing of fleshly works.
cambridgeGalatians 5:19: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,"
19–23 . St Paul supplies a test whereby men may ascertain whether they are under the curse of the law or heirs of the promise. First, the Apostle gives a list of the works of the flesh —not complete but comprehensive—the commission of which excludes men from the inheritance. They cannot plead the promise. It is not for such as they. They shall not inherit the Kingdom o…
vincentGalatians 5:19: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,"
ManifestYou have a clearly defined standard by which to decide whether you are led by the Spirit or by the flesh. Each exhibits its peculiar works or fruits.Adultery (μοιχεία)To be dropped from the text.Uncleanness (ἀκαθαρσία)See on 1 Thessalonians 2:3.Lasciviousness (ἀσελγεια)See on Mark 7:22.
The text calls these "works of the flesh," emphasizing that they are concrete actions, not just internal thoughts. Paul uses "works" (plural) because these actions are often disjointed and even contradictory, revealing their origin from a fallen human nature rather than a unified, harmonious Spirit.
Paul is contrasting the life led by God's Spirit with the life dominated by sinful human nature, often called "the flesh." He's explaining that those who claim to be led by the Spirit should demonstrate it by a life distinct from the obvious sins that flow from our fallen nature. This list, which he begins here, serves as a clear diagnostic tool to discern where one's life is truly originating from.
Paul is contrasting the life led by God's Spirit with the life dominated by sinful human nature, often called "the flesh." He's explaining that those who claim to be led by the Spirit should demonstrate it by a life distinct from the obvious sins that flow from our fallen nature. This list, which he begins here, serves as a clear diagnostic tool to discern where one's life is truly originating from.
"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions," — The text calls these "works of the flesh," emphasizing that they are concrete actions, not just internal thoughts. Paul uses "works" (plural) because these actions are often disjointed and even contr…
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Last reviewed October 2026
