What Does Galatians 5:20 Mean?

(20) **Idolatry.**—When the Christian is warned against idolatry, it is not, of course, *systematic* idolatry that is meant, but that occasional compliance with idolatrous customs—taking part in the idol feasts, or eating of things offered to idols—which he might easily be led into by his intercourse with his heathen neighbours. **Witchcraft.**—*Sorcery,* or *magic.* It would seem that practices of this kind were especially common in Asia Minor. In Acts 19:19 we read that at Ephesus, “many of them which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men;” and there is other evidence to the same effect. **Variance.**—*Strife,* or *contention.* **Emulations.**—Singular and plural are somewhat strangely mixed throughout the list. There is a division of authorities as to the reading in the case *of* this word. It seems probable, upon the whole, that the singular is right—*emulation,* or *jealousy.* “Wrath,” on the other hand, should be *wraths*—*i.e.,* ebullitions or outbreaks of wrath. (See the Note on Romans 2:8.) **Strife.**—This appears to be a mistake in the Authorised version. The word was supposed to be connected with that translated “variance” above, and the two words received the same translation indifferently. The word *ereis,* which is here translated “variance,” is rendered by “strife” in Romans 13:13, 1Corinthians 3:3, Philippians 1:15, 1Timothy 6:4; on the other hand, the word *eritheia* is rendered by “strife” here and in 2Corinthians 12:20, Philippians 2:3, James 3:14-16. It is rendered by “contention” in Romans 2:8 (“them that are contentious”) and Philippians 1:16. The true derivation of this latter word is, however, something quite different: it is to be sought in a word meaning “a day-labourer.” Hence we get the senses—(1) labour for hire; (2) interested canvassing for office; (3) a spirit of factious partisanship; factiousness. (This word, too, is really in the plural.) **Seditions, heresies.**—Rather, *divisions, parties.* The Authorised version has too special and technical a sound, as if the first related to factions in the State, and the second in the Church. This is not really so. The two words are distinguished from each other, as the lighter and more aggravated forms of division: the first. divisions; the second, divisions organised into parties.