For some reason, a number of current translations of the New Testament “omit” today’s subject! Today’s “sin” I should say. But others include it with a note, “not in some manuscripts!”

But it IS in the old Textus Receptus, the Greek Bible from which our King James Version translators worked. Men of scholarly repute indeed.

I am speaking of  “murders.” 

Nestled in the last verse of this “sins of the flesh” litany.

The (Greek) word is spelled “phonos,” as Paul would have written it.

Its root, “pheno,” means “to murder” 8 times in the Bible, and then “to slaughter” 1 more time. (It is certainly not the HOLY SPIRIT Who leads a human being to cold-bloodedly “murder” a fellow man or woman!)

Matthew 15:19-20 is really Jesus’ Own “works of the flesh” list, and our Lord includes “murder.” That’s good enough for me! (Paul may have been building off this list, in fact.) “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, MURDERS, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man ….” 

We learn in Luke 23 that Barabbas was a “murderer!” (“Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for MURDER, was cast into prison.”)

And Saul (Paul) himself, when still a lost Pharisee and persecutor of the Church, was apparently a “murderer!” So recorded Dr. Luke anyway: “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and SLAUGHTER against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” 

And Hebrews 11:37 mentions the saints (martyrs) through the ages who have been “slain” for Jesus’ sake, using a form of our verb here.

So, Paul in Galatians 5:21 (our Text this morning) certainly means “murder” literally … as a “work” of the flesh.

But could he also means it metaphorically, spiritually? I think so! In this sense, quoting John now. “Whosoever HATETH his brother is a MURDERER: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:15

And we have already been told (back in Galatians 5:20) that one of these disgusting expressions of the flesh is vicious “hatred!” 

That’s enough information.

At least for me, to know that I want no part of such a lifestyle.

I want to belong to that crowd that tries “to love one another.”

Don’t you?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

A realization of which (that type of unselfish loving) is only possible via God the Holy Spirit!

 

No, Paul is NOT splitting hairs! Not in my opinion, anyway. Each of these “qualities” (wrong word, “sins”) has its own meaning, though some of them appear to be closely linked.

Today we study the selfish trait of “envy.”

Paul places it immediately after “heresies” and just before “murders,” on his nefarious “works of the flesh” list.

In fact, Paul has the noun framed in its plural form, “envyings.” 

The Greek word is “phthonos,” which basically means “to destroy, to corrupt,” or “to defile.” It is derived from a root word likely meaning “to pine away.” (So immediately we know that something or someone is being hated!)

Furthermore, it (“phthonos”) is only used 9 times in the entire New Testament.

Twice of the hatred Jesus’ enemies had for Him! As in Mark 15:10, speaking of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion … “For He (our Lord) knew that the chief priests had delivered Him for envy.” Those rascals feared losing their positions of high power (and greedy money making opportunities), had Jesus been allowed to live! They so “envied” Jesus’ popularity with the common people!

Then … Paul uses our word five times, “phthonos.” Romans 1:21 (that infamous list depicting the tragic “downward” spiral of sin) being a prime example. And of course our Text today (for several days, in fact) is included in these five.

Then add James and Peter, with one occurrence each in their writings. Actually Peter lists “envies” as one of the specific sins that will “choke” our love for God’s Word! Particularly dangerous!

“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and ENVIES, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, DESIRE the sincere milk of the WORD, that ye may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:1-2

Wow!

One textbook defines “envy” as “regarding another person with ill-will because of what he or she has, possesses!” Needlessly hating him or her simply because he or she has something you’d like to have for yourself!

“Phthonos” is always troubled at the prosperity, the success of anyone! 

Ultra selfish … is the envier!

Maybe even dangerous!

And importantly, this word is never used in a good sense in all the extant literature, even among the heathen!

So for us Christians, instead of being grieved at the success, prosperity of someone else, we should REJOICE in their blessings! 

Information given!

Homework, yet to be completed!

There’s an applicable  Line (maybe two or three) Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13, that great “Love” Chapter of the Bible.

“Charity (Love) seeketh not her own!” 

“Charity thinketh no evil!”

And “Charity rejoiceth in the truth!”

No room for “envy” then, not in a Believer’s heart!

Need any more be said?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I’ve heard the word all my life, it seems.

“Heresies!”

(Yet I still have trouble spelling it!)

But there’s no way around it today, it being in Paul’s “works of the flesh” list.

Look with me. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, HERESIES, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like ….” Galatians 5:19-21

Wow!

Fleshly (sexual) sins, the first four.

Spiritual sins, the next two.

And social sins, the “bulk” of the list, the remaining 11 violations.

In that order, too.

But, what are “heresies?”

The word Paul wrote on his (Galatian) parchment was “airesis.” But when pronounced, we get “hairesis.” Virtually our English word, as is “transliterated” in the King James Bible, “heresies.”  (Thus, we are studying a “loan word” today, borrowed from the Greek and employed by the English, the Americans too!)

As far as I can tell, at least in English … the noun “heresy” always has a negative, a bad meaning! In all its etymological history!

It actually derives from a root verb, “aireo,” which simply means “to lift up,” maybe even “to raise up.” And the implication is “to lift up” oneself!  Or, really much more to the point in Paul’s enumeration here, “to lift up one’s particular point of view!” 

The word is sparsely used (9 times, total) in the New Testament. Where it also is only engaged in a contextually negative manner.

Most often translated “sect,” Paul (always) voices the word in reference to the Pharisees, or Sadducees. Acts 15:5 is representative. “But there rose up certain of the SECT of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Even Christianity is called this, a “sect,” by certain Roman leaders … at times anyway, at first. See Acts 28:22 for an example.

But Paul, most importantly for our Lesson today, uses the word to define a “splinter group” in one of his local Churches. Some who have “lifted themselves up,” their “doctrinal views,” above that of all the other brothers and sisters in Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 11:9 Paul admits the existence of such “heresies” in the Church there. And later Peter agrees, adding an adjective to the mix! “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable HERESIES, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1

Today we label “heresies” as “clearly false teachings,” of any kind.

Now it is true that “aireo,” the root verb behind “heresy,” can just mean “to choose.” As in Hebrews 11:25-26, there spoken of the faithful man of God Moses … “CHOOSING rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

But once becoming a noun, “heresies” are negative, sinful and (according to Peter) deadly!

Christians, stay away from them, from heresies. Let the Word of God be your Guide, your Canon, your Mentor … and all will be well.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Our word for the day, in this terrible list, is “seditions.”

One more thing to avoid as Christians!

Have you noticed that some of these “sins” nearly overlap?

The Greek for “seditions” is “dichostasia.” It is a blended word, with a prefix (“dis” from “duo”) meaning two, the number two. Then the noun’s “root,” which is “stasis,” meaning “a standing.” (Its verb would be “histemi,” that is “to stand,” an infinitive.)

So, what are “seditions?”

Two groups, two different parties, two factions in a Church body! (Or anywhere else for that matter!) Two or more, perhaps, but grammatically the meaning is just “two.”

Two groups … standing apart!

Refusing to cooperate!

This situation smacks of cronyism, too! (I am sticking with my friends … no matter what the Bible says! Or this: “The Bible’s real intent  has been twisted in our case! it really means ….”)

Thus, this is the atmosphere where real “fellowship” has been ripped apart.

“Communion” divided into camps, warring camps often.

It represents a condition in which some man (or woman) decides his (or her) way is far more important that the “peace” of the whole Church!

“Dichostasia” is rarely used in the New Testament. Only 3 times, and all by Paul!

Romans 16:17 … “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark (keep an “eye” on) them which cause DIVISIONS (our word “dichostasia”) and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid (turn aside from) them.”

Wow!

Then … 1 Corinthians 3:3 … “For ye are yet carnal (fleshly): for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and DIVISIONS (“dichostasia”), are ye not carnal (fleshly), and walk as men?”

The third occurrence? Our Text here in Galatians 5:20.

The solution to such damaging “seditions?”

The Holy Spirit of God!

Let me repeat. Looks like among some (at least so-called) Christians … personal friendships mean more than spiritual principles! 

Hence, the Holy Spirit is grieved and the Cause of Christ suffers.

Gone among us be such “seditions!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, STRIFE …” Galatians 5:19-20, with today’s “key word” capitalized.

Let’s talk about “strife,” which is not to be practiced by us Christians! It is a product, an effort, of the flesh, apart from the Holy Spirit of God.

Remember that “variance,” a deviancy we’ve already studied here in Paul’s list, is the little Greek noun “eris!” It means “contention, debate,” and the like. Sounds a lot like “strife” to me! 

But “eritheia” in Greek (the actual word for “strife”) is more picturesque. My laptop software (no commentaries yet consulted) immediately tells me the word means “campaigning for office!”  A spirit of electioneering! Furthermore, “a desire to put one’s self-interest forward!”

It is “strife” for sure, but only because of someone’s great big EGO. Remember Proverbs 13:10, “Only by PRIDE cometh CONTENTION: but with the well advised is wisdom.”

Wow!

Strife … “selfish ambitions” says another scholar. “Base self-seeking” says another.

I am told “eritheia” comes from “erithos,” the Greek word for “hireling!” Doing what one does “for reward, money, gain!” (One preacher I studied says: “There is not a very big difference between working for pay and working ONLY for pay!)

Sounds bad!

This (“strife”) then is not necessarily the sin of always putting everyone down, sheer hatred … but rather of always exalting oneself! Sheer pride!

But now, for a second, how does Paul use the word elsewhere in the Bible?

I think Philippians 2:3 is the best teaching illustration. “Let nothing be done through STRIFE (“eritheia”) or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

The solution to “eritheia?” Ah, “lowliness of mind!” Esteeming one’s brothers and sisters in Christ “better” than oneself!

Wow!

Yes, we have clearly shifted from sexual sins to social sins, that’s for sure! And this sort of contentious “campaigning” occurs way too often in our Churches!

One more “solution” verse … “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” Romans 12:10, where “preferring” actually means “letting someone else go first!”

Lord, help us to obey!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell