Gal 5:20 | TNotes | STEP | 5:20 Idolatry , the worship of false gods, was common in Galatia and was often accompanied by sorcery (see Acts 19:19 ; cp. 1 Sam 15:23 ; Rev 9:21 ; 18:23 ; 21:8 ; 22:15 ) and sexual immorality (cp. 1 Cor 6:9 , 15-20 ). • Hostility arises from angry pride rather than the Spirit’s humility and love (Gal 5:22-23 ). • Quarreling refers not to standing up for what is right, but to stirring up discord and looking for a fight (1 Cor 3:3 ; 2 Cor 12:20 ; 1 Tim 6:4 ; Titus 3:9 ). Those who are guided by the Holy Spirit seek to speak the truth in love with a peacemaking attitude (Gal 5:22 ; Eph 4:15 ; 2 Tim 2:23-26 ). • Jealousy (Greek zēlos , “zeal”) has both a positive sense (“passionate commitment”) and, as here, a negative one (“intense desire for another’s things”); cp. Jas 3:14-16 . • Outbursts of anger (or fits of rage ) contrast with self-control (Gal 5:23 ; see, e.g., Acts 19:28 ; 2 Cor 12:20 ; 1 Tim 3:3 ; Titus 1:7 ). • Selfish ambition (or Selfishness ) is the antithesis of Christian love (cp. Rom 2:8 ; Phil 2:3 ; Jas 3:14 , 16 ). • Division (Greek haireseis , “heresies, factions, sects”) refers to people using differing beliefs or practices to divide the community (cp. 1 Cor 11:17-19 ; 2 Pet 2:1-3 ).

5:20 ^a Idolatry, the worship of false gods, was common in Galatia and was often accompanied by sorcery (see Acts 19:19 ^b; cp. 1 Sam 15:23 ^c; Rev 9:21 ^d; 18:23 ^e; 21:8 ^f; 22:15 ^g) and sexual immorality (cp. 1 Cor 6:9 ^h, 15-20 ⁱ).

• Hostility arises from angry pride rather than the Spirit’s humility and love (Gal 5:22-23 ^j).

• Quarreling refers not to standing up for what is right, but to stirring up discord and looking for a fight (1 Cor 3:3 ^k; 2 Cor 12:20 ^l; 1 Tim 6:4 ^m; Titus 3:9 ⁿ). Those who are guided by the Holy Spirit seek to speak the truth in love with a peacemaking attitude (Gal 5:22 ^o; Eph 4:15 ^p; 2 Tim 2:23-26 ^q).

• Jealousy (Greek zēlos, “zeal”) has both a positive sense (“passionate commitment”) and, as here, a negative one (“intense desire for another’s things”); cp. Jas 3:14-16 ^r.

• Outbursts of anger (or fits of rage) contrast with self-control (Gal 5:23 ^s; see, e.g., Acts 19:28 ^t; 2 Cor 12:20 ^u; 1 Tim 3:3 ^v; Titus 1:7 ^w).

• Selfish ambition (or Selfishness) is the antithesis of Christian love (cp. Rom 2:8 ^x; Phil 2:3 ^y; Jas 3:14 ^z, 16 ^aa).

• Division (Greek haireseis, “heresies, factions, sects”) refers to people using differing beliefs or practices to divide the community (cp. 1 Cor 11:17-19 ^ab; 2 Pet 2:1-3 ^ac).