Gal 5:15, 20 | JFB | STEP | 15. bite — backbite the character. devour —the substance by injuring, extortion, &c. ( ). consumed, &c.—Strength of soul, health of body, character, and resources, are all consumed by broils [BENGEL ].

Galatians 5:15

15. bite—backbite the character.

devour—the substance by injuring, extortion, &c. (Hab 1:13; Mt 23:14; 2Co 11:20).

consumed, &c.—Strength of soul, health of body, character, and resources, are all consumed by broils [BENGEL].

Galatians 5:20

20. witchcraft—sorcery; prevalent in Asia (Ac 19:19; compare Re 21).

hatred—Greek, "hatreds."

variance—Greek, "strife"; singular in the oldest manuscripts.

emulations—in the oldest manuscripts, singular—"emulation," or rather, "jealousy"; for the sake of one's own advantage. "Envyings" (Ga 5:21) are even without advantage to the person himself [BENGEL].

wrath—Greek, plural, "passionate outbreaks" [ALFORD].

strife—rather as Greek, "factions," "cabals"; derived from a Greek root, meaning "a worker for hire": hence, unworthy means for compassing ends, factious practices.

seditions—"dissensions," as to secular matters.

heresies—as to sacred things (see on 1Co 11:19). Self-constituted parties; from a Greek root, to choose. A schism is a more recent split in a congregation from a difference of opinion. Heresy is a schism become inveterate [AUGUSTINE, Con. Crescon. Don., 2,7].