Galatians 5
King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context
About this chapter
AI-assisted, sourced"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage": if the Galatians are circumcised to be justified, "Christ shall profit you nothing," for in Christ only "faith which worketh by love" avails. Yet liberty is not "an occasion to the flesh"; "by love serve one another," for "all the law is fulfilled in one word," namely "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Paul urges "Walk in the Spirit," and sets "the works of the flesh" against "the fruit of the Spirit," which "is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance." Galatians 5:1Galatians 5:2Galatians 5:4Galatians 5:6Galatians 5:13Galatians 5:14Galatians 5:16Galatians 5:19Galatians 5:22Galatians 5:23
Who, where, when, and the key verses
Who
Paul, writing to the Galatian "brethren," and those who "trouble you" by pressing circumcision. Galatians 5:2Galatians 5:10Galatians 5:11Galatians 5:12Galatians 5:13Galatians overview
Where
Paul writes to "the churches of Galatia," in the Roman province of Galatia in central Asia Minor. The letter does not say where he wrote it. Galatians overview
When
Traditionally about AD 48-57. Some date it about AD 48-49, before the Jerusalem council of Acts 15; others about AD 53-57, during Paul's third journey. Galatians overview
How it fits
Chapter 4 ended "we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free," and this chapter applies that freedom. Chapter 6 continues the walk in the Spirit with how to restore one "overtaken in a fault." Galatians 4:31Galatians 5:1Galatians 5:25Galatians 6:1
Key verses
- Verse 1
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1
- Verse 14
"All the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." This quotes Leviticus 19:18. Galatians 5:14Leviticus 19:18
- Verse 22
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22Galatians 5:23
Takeaway
Use the freedom Christ gives to serve one another in love, and walk by the Spirit, who produces His fruit in you. Galatians 5:1Galatians 5:13Galatians 5:16Galatians 5:22
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-31.
Stand fast in liberty
1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
Serve one another by love
13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Flesh and Spirit
16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For 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. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, 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. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.