God’s Word Translation
Galatians 5:18
18If your spiritual nature is your guide, you are not subject to Moses’ laws.
Galatians 5:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
- New International Version (NIV)But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Context of Galatians 5:18
16Let me explain further. Live your life as your spiritual nature directs you. Then you will never follow through on what your corrupt nature wants. 17What your corrupt nature wants is contrary to what your spiritual nature wants, and what your spiritual nature wants is contrary to what your corrupt nature wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don’t always do what you intend to do. If your spiritual nature is your guide, you are not subject to Moses’ laws. 19Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, 20idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions,
Read all of Galatians 5Galatians 5:18 word by word
εἰ δὲ πνεύματι ἄγεσθε, οὐκ ἐστὲ ὑπὸ νόμον.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Galatians 5:18
- Galatians 5:16Let me explain further. Live your life as your spiritual nature directs you. Then you will never follow through on what your corrupt nature wants.
- Galatians 4:6Because you are God’s children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into us to call out, “Abba! Father!”
- Psalms 25:4Make your ways known to me, O Lord, and teach me your paths.
- Psalms 143:8Let me hear about your mercy in the morning, because I trust you. Let me know the way that I should go, because I long for you.
- Proverbs 8:20I walk in the way of righteousness, on the paths of justice,
- Isaiah 48:16Come here. Listen to this: From the beginning I have spoken nothing in private. From the time it took place, I was there. Now the Almighty Lord has sent me and his Spirit.
- Ezekiel 36:27I will put my Spirit in you. I will enable you to live by my laws, and you will obey my rules.
- John 16:13When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into the full truth. He won’t speak on his own. He will speak what he hears and will tell you about things to come.
- Romans 8:12So, brothers and sisters, we have no obligation to live the way our corrupt nature wants us to live.
- 2 Timothy 1:7God didn’t give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment.
- 1 John 2:20The Holy One has anointed you, so all of you have knowledge.
- Galatians 4:5God sent him to pay for the freedom of those who were controlled by these laws so that we would be adopted as his children.
- Romans 6:14Certainly, sin shouldn’t have power over you because you’re not controlled by God’s laws, but by God’s favor.
Commentaries on Galatians 5:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18But, if ye be led of the Spirit - If ye receive again the Gospel and the grace of Christ, and permit yourselves to be influenced by the Holy Spirit whom you are now grieving, ye are not under the law - ye will not feel those evil propensities which now disgrace and torment you; but they must prevail while you are not under the influence of the grace and Spirit of Christ.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit - If you submit to the teachings and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Ye are not under the law - You are under a different dispensation - the dispensation of the Spirit. You are free from the restraints and control of the Mosaic law, and are under the control of the Spirit of God.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-26Verses 16-26 If it be our care to act under the guidance and power of the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and oppositions of the corrupt nature which remains in us, it shall not have dominion over us. Believers are engaged in a conflict, in which they earnestly desire that grace may obtain full and speedy victory. And those who desire thus to give themselves up to be led by the Holy Spirit, are not under the law as a covenant…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18People guided by the Holy Spirit follow the Spirit's authority, not the law. They answer to the Spirit of God, not the law. Paul did not intend to justify breaking civil laws (see Romans 13:1–7; Titus 3:1; compare 1 Peter 2:13–17). He was talking about how to achieve spiritual righteousness before God.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. "If ye are led (give yourselves up to be led) by (Greek) the Spirit, ye are not under the law." For ye are not working the works of the flesh (Ga 5:16, 19-21) which bring one "under the law" (Ro 8:2, 14). The "Spirit makes free from the law of sin and death" (Ga 5:23). The law is made for a fleshly man, and for the works of the flesh (1Ti 1:9), "not for a righteous man" (Ro 6:14, 15).Read the comment
Topics related to Galatians 5:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Galatians 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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