Galatians 5:20-21 Meaning: What Is the 'Sorcery' Paul Warns Against?
20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
21envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.
20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,
21envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
20idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strifes, emulations, wraths, rivalries, dissensions, sects,
21envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revellings, and such like, of which I tell you before, as I also said before, that those doing such things the reign of God shall not inherit.
20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, disputes, schools of opinion,
21envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revels, and things like these; as to which I tell you beforehand, even as I also have said before, that they who do such things shall not inherit God's kingdom.
Meaning in one sentence
Paul includes sorcery (pharmakeia) in his list of fleshly works. It refers to drug use, poisoning, or magic.
Context
Paul wrote to the Galatians to counter a teaching that pulled them back into rule-keeping. In chapter 5, he draws a sharp contrast: walk by the Spirit or gratify the desires of the flesh. These verses belong to a catalogue of behaviors that spring from human nature left to itself. They range from idolatry and sorcery to hatred, jealousy, and drunkenness. Paul names them plainly because the stakes are high: a life patterned on these things cuts against the grain of God's kingdom. He had warned them before, and he warns them again.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight of this passage. First, pharmakeia (sorcery) originally meant the use of drugs, both healing and poisoning. It came to be associated with magic and occult practices (Acts 8:9,11). Paul places it in the same list as idolatry, reminding readers that any attempt to manipulate spiritual forces apart from God is a rebellion against Him. Second, hairesis (heresies) literally means "a choosing." In the New Testament, it describes factions or parties that tear a church apart. Paul warns against the spirit of division that puts human preference above unity in Christ. Third, the verb prassontes (doing) means to practice habitually, to make a regular business of something. Paul is not talking about the occasional failure. He is describing a settled lifestyle. These words together show that the works of the flesh are not random mistakes but deeply rooted patterns that oppose the Spirit's work in our lives.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this list with seriousness. Some, like Wesley, take the mention of sorcery literally as witchcraft, citing Old Testament prohibitions. Others, like Barnes, note that Paul does not vouch for the actual existence of witchcraft but condemns the fraudulent practice and any attempt to gain power outside God. The inclusion of heresies (factions) has been understood by many, including the Cambridge Bible, as the formation of organized parties within the church. Historic Christian teaching holds that these behaviors, when practiced impenitently, exclude a person from the kingdom. Yet all traditions emphasize that Paul's warning is a call to repentance, not a declaration of hopelessness. The fruit of the Spirit that follows shows the way to life.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think that if they have ever committed one of these sins, they are automatically disqualified from God's kingdom. In fact, the Greek verb prassontes means “practicing” or “habitually doing.” Paul warns against a settled lifestyle of these sins, not every stumble. As Calvin noted, the saints themselves fall into grievous sins, but they return to the path of righteousness. The warning calls us to repentance, not despair.
Living This Out
This week, look at your relationships. Is there any anger you are nursing, any jealousy you keep feeding, any division you are spreading? Paul's list includes attitudes before it includes actions. The call is not just to stop doing bad things but to let the Spirit transform your heart. If you find yourself caught in a pattern of sin, bring it into the light. Confess it. Ask God to break the hold it has on you. And remember the fruit of the Spirit is just as real: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That is the life God offers you today.
Main takeaway: The works of the flesh, when practiced habitually, shut a person out of God's kingdom, but the Spirit offers a different way to live.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Paul lists things we should not do, like being mean or fighting. God wants us to be kind and loving. When we make mistakes, we can say sorry and ask God to help us do better.
For ages 9, 12
Paul warns that if we keep doing things like lying, being jealous, or starting fights without repenting, it will keep us away from God's kingdom. But the good news is that God gives us His Spirit to change us from the inside. Instead of those bad habits, we can grow love, patience, and self-control. It's not about being perfect, but about letting God lead your life.
Questions People Ask
What does 'sorcery' mean in Galatians 5:20?
The Greek word is pharmakeia, which originally referred to the use of drugs, both medicinal and poisonous. In Paul's time, it was associated with magic and occult practices. Paul lists it among the serious sins that come from the flesh.
Does Galatians 5:21 mean Christians can lose their salvation?
Christians have understood this verse differently. Many, like Calvin, emphasize that Paul is speaking about those who practice these sins habitually without repentance. A genuine Christian may stumble but will not continue in a lifestyle of sin. The verse is a serious warning, not a statement that every sin automatically separates you from God.
Why does Paul include 'heresies' in the list?
The Greek word hairesis means 'a choosing' and came to refer to a party or sect. Paul includes it because divisions within the church are a work of the flesh. When people form factions based on personal loyalties rather than unity in Christ, it damages the body of believers.
What does it mean to 'practice' such things?
The Greek verb prassontes means to do something habitually, to make a regular business of it. Paul is not warning about occasional mistakes but about a persistent lifestyle. The warning calls for repentance and a change of direction.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study