Galatians 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Study Note
Study Note
Paul's 'works of the flesh' catalogue — adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness through to heresies and envyings — is structured as a vice-list of the kind common in both Jewish (Wisdom of Solomon 14:24-26) and Greco-Roman moral philosophy, but given a pneumatological framework: these are what the flesh produces when the Spirit does not govern. The list moves from sexual sins through social-relational sins (hatred, variance, strife) to cultic sins (idolatry, witchcraft) and communal sins (heresies, seditions), encompassing the full range of human destructiveness. Its juxtaposition with the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-23) creates one of the New Testament's most powerful ethical diptychs, contrasting the harvest of self-directed life with that of Spirit-directed life. Paul's conclusion 'they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God' has been a focus of debate about the relationship between justification and moral transformation.
Other Translations
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
And manifest also are the works of the flesh, which are: Adultery, whoredom, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Now the works of the flesh are clear, which are these: evil desire, unclean things, wrong use of the senses,
Cross References
Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which …
Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood.
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which …
For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall …
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit …
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to …
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by …
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.