Galatians 5:21
envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Paul includes "envyings" and "drunkenness" together, not just as distinct sins, but as closely related "works of the flesh" that often fuel each other. This isn't just a list of bad behaviors; it's a stark warning that consistently practicing such things forfeits any claim to God's kingdom.
Paul is continuing his urgent plea to the Galatians to live by the Spirit, not by the desires of their flesh. He's just listed many "works of the flesh" and now directly warns them that those who habitually practice such things cannot inherit God's kingdom, a consequence he'd already emphasized when he first ministered to them.
Paul lists some pretty intense stuff here - envy, drunkenness, orgies. He doesn't just describe them; he warns us about their ultimate consequence. What's the big deal?
This verse pulls no punches. Paul lists several 'works of the flesh' – actions that spring from our fallen nature, not from the Spirit of God. These aren't minor slip-ups; they are patterns of behavior that characterize a life lived apart from God's kingdom.
A Sobering Enumeration
Paul throws in 'and such like,' signaling that this isn't an exhaustive list but representative of a whole category of sin. These aren't just isolated incidents; they are the 'works' – the ongoing practices – of a life dominated by the flesh.
Paul issues a stark warning: 'those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.' What does this mean for us, and is there any hope for those who have stumbled?
This is a crucial point of clarification. Paul isn't saying that one single act of envy or a moment of drunkenness permanently seals your fate. Instead, he's addressing a pattern of life, a settled state of rebellion against God's will.
The Exclusion from God's Rule
Understand the original words
phthonos · Greek Noun
A feeling of resentment or jealousy regarding the possessions, qualities, or success of another; it is considered a destructive work of the flesh that disrupts community.
methē · Greek Noun
The act of consuming intoxicating drink to excess, leading to loss of sobriety, impaired judgment, and behavior inconsistent with a life governed by the Holy Spirit.
kōmos · Greek Noun
Refers to unrestrained, riotous parties or debauchery characterized by sexual immorality and excess, typical of a life lived apart from God.
basileia tou Theou · Greek Noun
The sovereign reign and rule of God; inheriting it refers to entering into the fullness of eternal life and communion with God in His present and future kingdom.
Paul's repeated warnings in this letter highlight the urgency of his message. He's not just stating a theological principle but reminding the Galatians of explicit counsel he gave them during his previous visits, emphasizing that those who persist in certain destructive behaviors can forfeit their eternal inheritance.
c. AD 49-50
Paul's First Visit to Galatia
The Apostle Paul preaches the Gospel in the region of Galatia, establishing churches and laying the foundation for Christian communities.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Second Visit to Galatia
Paul revisits the Galatian churches, likely to strengthen them in the faith and address any emerging issues. This visit is referenced as a time he 'also told you in time past.'
c. AD 53-57— this verse
Writing of the Letter to the Galatians
Paul writes his letter to the churches in Galatia, likely from Ephesus or Corinth. He addresses serious theological and practical issues, including the danger of false teachers and the importance of living by the Spirit.
This passage directly parallels the warning in Galatians, listing similar 'works of the flesh' and explicitly stating that 'such things' will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Romans 13:13Here, Paul warns against 'carousing and drunkenness, sensuality and other vices,' which aligns with the 'orgies' and drunkenness mentioned in Galatians, all pointing to a life dominated by the flesh.
Ephesians 5:3-6This passage reiterates the theme, condemning sexual immorality, impurity, and greed, linking them to the works of the flesh that draw God's wrath and exclude people from His kingdom.
Matthew 7:21-23Jesus' words about 'those who say to me, Lord, Lord,' but do not do the will of the Father, echo the Galatians warning that mere profession is not enough; true inheritance of the kingdom requires genuine obedience, not just outward actions.
1 John 2:15-17This passage contrasts loving the world and its desires (which include many 'works of the flesh') with doing the will of God, highlighting that a life consumed by worldly pleasures is incompatible with the eternal life God promises.
gillGalatians 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."
Envyings..... Uneasy distressing tortures of the mind, grieving at the good of others, that any should be in an equal, or in a better condition than themselves: murders, destroying of men's lives, which is often the consequence of the above evils: drunkenness; excess in drinking of…
meyerGalatians 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."
Galatians 5:21 . Φθόνοι , φόνοι ] paronomasia, as in Romans 1:29 ; Eur. Troad . 736. κῶμοι ] revellings, comissationes , especially at night; Herm. Privatalterth . § 17. 29. Comp. Romans 13:13 ; 1 Peter 4:3 ; Plat. Theaet . p. 173 D: δεῖπνα καὶ σὺν αὐλητρίσι κῶμοι . Symp . p. 212 C;…
Paul includes "envyings" and "drunkenness" together, not just as distinct sins, but as closely related "works of the flesh" that often fuel each other. This isn't just a list of bad behaviors; it's a stark warning that consistently practicing such things forfeits any claim to God's kingdom.
Paul is continuing his urgent plea to the Galatians to live by the Spirit, not by the desires of their flesh. He's just listed many "works of the flesh" and now directly warns them that those who habitually practice such things cannot inherit God's kingdom, a consequence he'd already emphasized when he first ministered to them.
Paul is continuing his urgent plea to the Galatians to live by the Spirit, not by the desires of their flesh. He's just listed many "works of the flesh" and now directly warns them that those who habitually practice such things cannot inherit God's kingdom, a consequence he'd already emphasized when he first ministered to them.
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This warning is a call to self-examination and a powerful motivation to pursue the fruit of the Spirit, not to live in perpetual fear of losing salvation, but to ensure our lives truly reflect our identity in Christ.
"envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." — Paul includes "envyings" and "drunkenness" together, not just as distinct sins, but as closely related "works of the flesh" that often fuel each other. This isn't just a list of bad behaviors; it's a…
