Galatians 5:20
20 Idolatry [eidololatreia],
witchcraft [pharmakeia], hatred [echthra], variance [eris],
emulations [zelos], wrath [thumos], strife [eritheia],
seditions [dichostasia], heresies [hairesis], KJV-Interlinear
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities,
strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, NASB
Continuing the study in Galatians where works are
set against faith. As we have noted, the
Mosaic Law as set out in the Old Testament was set out to prove that man could
not live by that Law. And if man cannot
live by the Law, then man must die by that Law, which means that the Law in its
entirety was set forth in order to condemn man and demonstrate that man needs
something and someone better, in order to retain life.
Paul continues the example list of works of the
flesh, or of the carnal life that we have been studying. He places these sins in four categories. The second and third categories are listed
here in this verse, and are those of irreligion and malignity.
The first two, idolatry and witchcraft, have to do
with false religions.
The next describe characteristics of malignity or that
of intense hatred and the desire to do harm.
False religions include anything that is
established as a priority over ones life, replacing God and doctrine as the
priority.
Remember that religions in general are those belief
systems that elevate man or mans efforts, to a place equal with God, such that
God will accept man as His equal or better, as a result of mans efforts. In religion man is able to define his own
path to the divine level and beyond.
False religion includes all religions, obviously,
but it also includes all attitudes that disregard God, or reject God, as well
as all attitudes toward do-gooder, or self-made, or human effort or hustle, as
well as human defined self-righteousness or eliteness, or self-appointed
destinies.
False religion includes all attitudes that
disregard God, Christ, and the scriptures, and especially the mandates of God
that are set out in the scriptures.
Idolatry has to do with any and all worship or
pursuit of false objectives that promise contentment, completeness, happiness
or some sense of security in ones life.
Be that a stone idol, or the pursuit of secular things, or the idea of
ancestral influence in ones life or destiny, and so forth. Idolatry looks to
things outside of oneself, that somehow are seen to complete oneself or give
one an advantage of some sort, for life.
Witchcraft or sorcery, look to the supernatural
through satanic methods, in order to gain access to the beyond life or
spiritual realm. And given that satan is
the father of lies and deception, then all sorcery is a lie and a deception. Whether it is demon worship or zodiac
analysis, the same end of gaining some spiritual advantage by some supernatural
or secret code, is all a false pursuit.
Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship,
totally dependent on Gods work, whereby man receives the benefit of Gods work,
through grace, as a gift from God to man.
Mans efforts, human good, works, and so forth are rejected within the
entire plan of God. Man can earn
nothing, man can deserve nothing. Only
God does the work of life, of salvation, of everything. Only God deserves credit and receives all the
credit for all that He does.
In Christianity, man depends and lives on faith,
and not on luck or magic, or even science.
The next several words denote antagonisms against
others that wish harm against others for selfish reasons.
Hatred is the hostility of anger.
Variance is the quarrelling or arguing or debate
aspect.
Emulation is the jealousy or the indignation or the
heat of emotions in this regard.
Wrath describes the heavy breathing or passion or fierceness.
Strife describes the contensciouness or discord of
annoyance.
Seditious describes the division or dissention or
disunion or rebelliousness of breaking up or apart.
Heresies describe the profanities in the form of
lies that are expressed and superimposed in place of truths. This can include anything from abusive laws
or political views to rigid attitudes on clothing or makeup or social norms.
