Galatians 5:20 Meaning

“idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,”

Galatians 5:20, ESV

After addressing sins of a sexual nature, Paul continues delineating sins of a religious nature.

Religious sins in Galatians 5:20

These include idolatry and sorcery

We all know what idolatry is — setting up idols as gods — putting them in the place of God — where God ought to be.

Idolatry is also even worshiping the true God – but falsely.

Sorcery in Galatians 5:20

Next we have sorcery.

Sorcery could also be called witchcraft.

The Greek word here for sorcery is where we derive the English word pharmacy.

So witchcraft or sorcery here is describing the mixing of potions and the casting of spells — trying to manipulate false gods in order to have them do their bidding — to hurt their enemies

And so this is really a prohibition against all occult practices — fortune telling, Ouija boards, superstitious practices in general.

Social sins in Galatians 5:20

The next set of works are of the social variety.

Here Paul includes enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and envy.

Now sadly these are extremely prevalent in the Church. We can think back to all of our time in church — and can probably remember instances of these happening.

Perhaps we were a part of some of these ourselves.

Enmity in Galatians 5:20

Now enmity is hatred or hostility.

This was us when we once stood apart from Christ like Paul says in Romans 8:7:

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

We hated God. We were God haters.

Strife in Galatians 5:20

Next is strife.

This could also be translated contentions.

Strife describes someone with a quarreling spirit — someone whose speech is constantly causing tension between themselves and others.

Jealousy in Galatians 5:20

Next is jealousy.

Someone who is jealous is someone who is not content with the things that God has given them — and he sees what others have — and wants those things.

Fits of anger in Galatians 5:20

After that we have fits of anger.

This would be characterized by outbursts that spring forth out of an uncontrolled temper.

Rivalries in Galatians 5:20

Following that is rivalries.

By rivalries what Paul has in mind here is selfish ambition — wanting to be seen — wanting to be someone.

And so you try to outdo someone else — so that they would look at you.

We might think about false teachers in this way with Paul. They were in rivalry with Paul. They brought a different message and they wanted believers to turn away from Paul and his message and look upon them.

Dissensions in Galatians 5:20

After this we have dissensions.

This has to do with undermining authority — trying to get people on your side by creating questions.

This is what the Serpent did with Adam and Eve in the garden.

Divisions in Galatians 5:20

Next we have divisions.

If you remember in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he cautions against divisions — 1 Corinthians 1:12:

“What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.””

What do divisions do? They create factions and cliques in the Church — which destroy the unity of the Church.