Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:19-23 WEB)
In this passage, Paul lists a variety of behaviors that are considered “works of the flesh.” These include acts of sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, and orgies. These behaviors are in contrast to the “fruit of the Spirit,” which are listed in the following verse (Galatians 5:22-23).
The Greek word for “flesh” in this passage is “sarx,” which can also be translated as “sinful nature” or “sinful desires.” The works of the flesh, therefore, are actions and behaviors that are motivated by our sinful nature, rather than by the Spirit of God.
On the other hand, in Galatians 5:22-23, it states “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
The “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22 is a singular noun in Greek (καρπὸς τοῦ πνεύματος) and is derived from the Greek word “karpos” which refers to the natural result or outcome of something such as “fruit, produce, offspring.” This phrase is referring to the character traits that are produced in the believer who is guided by the Holy Spirit.
In contrast, the “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5:19-21 is a plural noun in Greek (ἔργα τῆς σαρκός) and is derived from the Greek word “ergon” which means “work, deed, action.” This phrase is referring to the sinful actions and attitudes that are characteristic of those who are not guided by the Spirit of God within them.
When comparing and contrasting the “fruit of the Spirit” listed in Galatians 5:22 with the antonyms in “works of the flesh” listed in Galatians 5:19-21, it’s important to note the differences in the Greek definitions of the words used for the fruit and works.
| Fruit of the Spirit | Works of the Flesh |
| Love (agape) – intentional, selfless, unconditional love | Enmity (echthra) – hostility, hatred, or ill-will |
| Joy (chara) – deep inner happiness | Jealousy (zelos) – envy or resentment towards others |
| Peace (eirene) – a state of tranquility and harmony | Strife (eris) – a state of conflict or discord |
| Patience (makrothymia) – ability to endure suffering or delay without becoming angry or upset | Fits of anger (thumos) – sudden, intense bursts of anger |
| Kindness (chrestotes) – being useful, helpful, or kind to others | Impurity (akatharsia) – having impure thoughts, words, or actions |
| Goodness (agathosune) – a lifestyle of moral excellence and integrity | Sensuality (aselgeia) – a lifestyle of excessive indulgence in physical pleasure |
| Faithfulness (pistis) – loyalty, trustworthiness and the ability to keep one’s promises | Idolatry (eidololatria) – the worship of idols or false gods |
| Gentleness (prautes) – meekness, humility and the ability to be easily entreated | Sorcery (pharmakeia) – use of drugs or magic to control or manipulate others |
| Self-control (egkrateia) – ability to control one’s desires and passions | Drunkenness (methai) – intoxication that leads to loss of self-control |
In summary, the works of the flesh are the actions and behaviors that are motivated by our sinful nature, while the fruit of the Spirit are the natural result of being filled with and guided by the Spirit of God. The Bible encourages us to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires and to walk in the Spirit, so that we may bear the fruit of the Spirit.
Digging deeper on the fruit of the Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit is a set of characteristics that are produced in a person who is filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit. These characteristics include love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, hope, purity, wisdom, humility, patience, forgiveness.
- Galatians 5:22-23 states that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
- Colossians 3:12-14 states that the fruit of the Spirit includes compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love.
- Ephesians 5:9 states that the fruit of the Spirit is goodness, righteousness, and truth.
- Romans 15:13 states that the fruit of the Spirit is joy, peace and hope.
- James 3:17 states that the fruit of the Spirit includes wisdom, purity, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 states that the fruit of the Spirit is love, which is patient, kind, not envious, boastful, proud, dishonoring, self-seeking, easily angered, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love rejoices with the truth, protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.
All these verses highlight the importance of being guided by the Spirit and reflect the character of God in the life of the believer. They remind us that the fruit of the Spirit is the natural result of being filled with and guided by the Spirit of God.
Digging deeper on works of the flesh
There are several other examples of the “works of the flesh” throughout the rest of the Bible.
- Romans 1:29-31, Paul lists several sins such as: “wickedness, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.”
- Galatians 5:19-21 lists the works of the flesh as: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 states that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Ephesians 5:3-5 also lists sexual immorality, impurity, and sensuality as works of the flesh, and warns against them.
- 1 John 2:16-17 says that those who practice sin are of the devil, and that those who abide in Christ do not practice sin.
In all these verses, the authors are emphasizing the same message that the works of the flesh are sinful actions and attitudes that are characteristic of those who are not guided by the Spirit of God within them. These works are clearly condemned and are in contrast with the holy and righteous nature of God.
Other studies on Galatians 5:19-23
- Self-control versus outbursts of anger – These two concepts contrast each other, and it is important to cultivate self-control in our lives and avoid giving in to outbursts of anger
- The attitude of a godly person (Philippians 2:5) – Your attitude controls your whole life. What kind of attitude yields a successful godly life? What kind of attitude leads to destruction?
- Living by the rule of the Holy Spirit – The more someone yields to the Holy Spirit in their life, the more their life will be characterized by the “Fruit of the Spirit.” The more someone works to establish their own religious righteousness, the more their life will be characterized by the “Works of the Flesh.”