UNDERTANDING GALATIANS 5V19-20

Verse 19.  Now the works of the flesh. What the flesh, or what corrupt and unrenewed human nature produces.

  Are manifest. Plain, well-known. The world is full of illustrations of what corrupt human nature produces; and as to the existence and nature of those works, no one can be ignorant, It is evident here that the word sarx, flesh, is used to denote corrupt human nature, and not merely the body; since many of the vices here enumerated are the passions of
the mind, or the soul, rather than of the body. Such are "wrath," "strife," "heresies," "envyings," etc., which cannot be said to have their seat in the body. If the word, therefore, is used to denote human nature, the passage furnishes a sad commentary on its tendency, and on the character of man. It is closely parallel to the declaration of the Saviour in Mt 15:19. Of the nature of most of these sins, or works of the flesh, it is unnecessary to offer any comment. They are not so rare as not to be well known, and the meaning of the words requires little exposition. In regard to the existence of these vices as the result of human nature,  A single glance at the history of the past, or at the present condition of the heathen and a large part of the Christian world, would furnish an ample and a painful demonstration.

{g} "flesh" Mt 15:19; Eph 5:3-6; Col 3:5,6; Re 22:15
Verse 20.  Witchcraft. Pretending to witchcraft. The apostle does not vouch for the actual existence of witchcraft; but he says that what was known as such was a proof of the corrupt nature of man, and was one of the fruits of it. No one can doubt it. It was a system of imposture and falsehood throughout; and nothing is a better demonstration of the depravity of the human heart than an extended and systematized attempt to impose on mankind. The word which is here used, (farmakeia, whence our word pharmacy, from farmakon a medicine, poison, magic potion,) means, properly, the preparing and giving of medicine. Then it means also poisoning, and also magic art, or enchantment; because in savage nations, pharmacy or medicine consisted much in magical incantations. Thence it means sorcery or enchantment, and it is so used uniformly in the New Testament. It is used only in Ga 5:20; Re 9:21; Re 18:23; 21:8. Some have supposed that it means here poisoning, a crime often practised; but the more correct interpretation is, to refer it to the black art, or to pretensions to witchcraft, and the numerous delusions which have grown out of it, as a striking illustration of the corrupt and depraved nature of man.

  Hatred. Gr., hatreds--in the plural. Antipathies, and want of love, producing contentions and strifes.

  Variance]  ereiv.  Contentions, where the principle of hatred proceeds to open acts; hence contests, altercations, lawsuits, and disputes in general.

  Emulations, zhloi In a bad sense, meaning heart-burning, or jealousy, or perhaps inordinate ambition. The sense is, ardour or zeal in a bad cause, leading to strife, etc.

 Wraths. Anger or animosities between contending factions, the usual effect of forming parties.

This also is plural in the Greek, yumoi, meaning passions,  Wrath]  yumoi.  Turbulent passions, disturbing the harmony of the mind, and producing domestic and civil broils and disquietudes

 Strife]  epiyeiai.  Disputations, janglings, logomachics, or strife about words. 

 Seditions]  dicostasiai.  Divisions into separate factions; parties, whether in the Church or state. 

 Heresies]  aireseiv.  Factions; parties in the Church separating from communion with each other, and setting up altar against altar.  The word, which is harmless in itself, is here used in a bad sense.  In stead of aireseiv the Slavonic has skandala, scandals, offences or stumbling-blocks.