Lists of vices and virtues (5:19–23)

Says “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery” (Gal 5:19; τὰ ἔργα τῆς σαρκός, “the works of the flesh”). The list ends “and the like”, with the warning “that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (5:21). “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (5:22; Ὁ δὲ καρπὸς τοῦ πνεύματός, singular “fruit”), “gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (5:23).

Paul gives such lists elsewhere: “Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers” (1 Cor 6:9); “sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry” (Col 3:5); and “the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth” (Eph 5:9). The wording of the list in 5:19–21 is treated in the textual notes.

Implies Because Paul says he warns them “as I did before” (5:21), the text shows that this teaching was part of what he had given them in person.

Uncertain How these lists relate to lists of vices and virtues outside Scripture is open; comparisons do not show dependence, and this background does not fix the meaning of the text.