Galatians 5:24 · Bible study
Galatians 5:24 Commentary: Crucifying the Flesh in Christ
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine Galatians 5:24: believers have crucified the flesh with its passions. Discover what this means for daily discipleship and freedom from sin.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Those who belong to Christ have decisively put their sinful nature to death through union with his crucifixion.
- Key words: flesh (sarx, fallen nature), crucified (aorist, past definitive), passions (pathēmata, evil emotions), desires (epithumiai, forbidden longings).
- Main debate: Whether the crucifixion is entirely complete in principle at conversion or requires daily ongoing mortification despite the initial act.
- Theological theme: Union with Christ as the foundation for sanctification and freedom from the law's condemnation.
- Best use: To ground believers in their identity in Christ and call them to live consistently with what God has already done.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
KJV King James Version 1769
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and those who are Christ's, the flesh did crucify with the affections, and the desires;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But they that [are] of the Christ have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And they that are Christ's have crucified their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Porque los que son de Cristo, han crucificado la carne con los afectos y concupiscencias.
Os que são de Cristo Jesus crucificaram a carne com as paixões e os maus desejos.
Ceux qui sont à Jésus-Christ ont crucifié la chair avec ses passions et ses désirs.
Welche aber Christo angehören, die kreuzigen ihr Fleisch samt den Lüsten und Begierden.
Maar die van Christus zijn, hebben het vlees gekruist met de bewegingen en begeerlijkheden.
E quelli che son di Cristo hanno crocifisso la carne con le sue passioni e le sue concupiscenze.
Albowiem którzy są Chrystusowi, ciało swoje ukrzyżowali z namiętnościami i z pożądliwościami.
Но те, которые Христовы, распяли плоть со страстями и похотями.
凡 屬基督 耶穌的人，是已經把肉體 連 肉體的邪情 私慾 同釘在十字架上了。
And those who are Christ's have put to death on the cross the flesh with its passions and its evil desires.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Galatians 5:24
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Galatians 5:24 describes a decisive, past action. The Greek aorist tense of ἐσταύρωσαν points to a specific event at conversion (Cambridge Bible, Calvin). The flesh, fallen human nature, is crucified with its passions and desires. John Calvin writes that the flesh is not entirely destroyed but has no right to exercise dominion. Adam Clarke adds that this crucifixion is the effect of the cross of Christ, not human effort. The flesh's ruling power is broken (Wesley). Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note that the act is already accomplished ideally in principle, but the practice must follow. The consensus holds that believers have been set free from the flesh's tyranny and are called to live out this reality daily by the Spirit (verse 25).
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Definitive crucifixion in principle: The aorist tense indicates a past, completed action; the flesh is condemned and its dominion broken (Calvin, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown).
- Ongoing mortification: The crucifixion is a past act but the process of putting sin to death continues through the Spirit (Gill, Wesley, Romans 8:13).
What is clear: All Christians agree that the flesh has been decisively defeated in Christ and no longer rules over those who belong to him.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of 'flesh' | All traditions agree Paul uses 'flesh' (sarx) to denote fallen human nature, not the physical body. | Some traditions (Wesleyan) understand the flesh as something that can be entirely eradicated in this life; others (Reformed) see it as indwelling sin that remains but loses its ruling power. |
| The timing of the crucifixion | All agree it is a past event tied to conversion and union with Christ. | Some emphasize that the aorist tense indicates a single completed act (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown), while others note that the process of mortification continues daily (Gill, Wesley). |
| The role of human effort | All agree the crucifixion is ultimately God's work through the cross and Spirit. | Some stress the believer's active responsibility to put sin to death (Romans 8:13); others emphasize passive appropriation of Christ's finished work. |
| The relationship to the law | Christians who have crucified the flesh are not under the law's condemnation. | Some view the law as the standard for Christian conduct; others see it as entirely superseded by the Spirit's guidance. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul's letter to the Galatians responds to a crisis. Jewish Christian teachers were urging Gentile converts to be circumcised and follow the law of Moses. Paul is adamant: salvation is through faith in Christ alone, not by works of the law. In chapter 5, he shifts to practical ethics based on this freedom. He contrasts the 'works of the flesh' (vv.19-21) with the 'fruit of the Spirit' (vv.22-23). Verse 24 is the hinge: those who belong to Christ have already put the flesh to death. The verb is aorist, referring to a past event, most likely conversion and baptism (Cambridge Bible cites the baptismal liturgy). In the Roman world, crucifixion was a shameful, slow death, used for slaves and rebels. Paul uses this graphic image to show the decisive break with sin. The 'flesh' (σάρξ) is not the physical body but the fallen human nature, which produces the vices listed earlier (Gill, Calvin). The 'passions' (παθήματα) and 'desires' (ἐπιθυμίαι) are the evil inclinations that arise from the flesh. By grounding this crucifixion in Christ's cross (Romans 6:6), Paul insists that the power for holy living comes from what God has already done, not from human effort. Yet he immediately adds, 'If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit' (v.25), showing that the initial act requires ongoing alignment. This verse is Paul's summary of the Christian's position: dead to the flesh, alive to God.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note a textual variant. The earliest manuscripts (Aleph, B) read 'those who are of Christ Jesus' rather than just 'of Christ' (Vincent, Cambridge Bible). The addition of 'Jesus' personalizes the phrase but does not change the meaning. The WEB, KJV, and ASV follow a shorter reading. No other significant variants are noted in the supplied data.
Reception History
This verse has been read across centuries as a key to understanding Christian freedom and holiness. The Cambridge Bible notes that it was echoed in the baptismal liturgy of the early church, where the newly baptized were urged to 'crucify the old man, and utterly abolish the whole body of sin.' The Reformers, particularly Calvin, used it to ground mortification in union with Christ. The Wesleyan tradition has seen in it the promise of entire sanctification, while the Reformed tradition emphasizes the ongoing struggle with remaining sin. Both agree that the flesh no longer has ultimate dominion over those who are Christ's. The verse continues to comfort and challenge believers who long to live in step with the Spirit.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Your identity defines your action. Paul begins with 'those who belong to Christ.' Belonging to Christ is not a label but a union (Galatians 3:29, Romans 8:9). This union brings everything else.
- Your past determines your present. The aorist 'have crucified' points to a decisive event at conversion. The flesh's doom is already sealed (Romans 6:6). Christians do not crucify the flesh; they already have.
- Your victory is comprehensive. Paul adds 'with its passions and lusts.' No part of the old nature is left untouched. Every sinful desire, from pride to greed, is under the cross's verdict (Calvin, Clarke).
Five-point outline
- Who: 'Those who belong to Christ Jesus' (the best reading, according to Cambridge Bible). Membership in Christ is the starting point.
- What: 'Have crucified the flesh.' A single, completed act with ongoing effects. Not a process but a position (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown).
- What exactly: 'The flesh', the entire fallen disposition, not just the body (Gill).
- How much: 'With its passions and lusts.' The whole package of sinful desires is included, none excluded.
- So what: This frees us from the law's condemnation (v.18, 23) and empowers us to walk by the Spirit (v.25). The cross is both the ground and the ongoing enablement.
Illustration hooks
- A tree cut down at the base but still sprouting from the stump. The main life is gone, but the shoots need to be dealt with. The crucifixion is the cutting down; daily mortification is dealing with the shoots (Colossians 3:5).
- A prisoner condemned to death but awaiting execution. He is legally dead; the sentence is final, but he still lives for a time. Christians are dead to sin in principle (Romans 6:11) but must 'put to death' the remaining deeds (Romans 8:13).
- An old phone that no longer has a working battery; it cannot run on its own power. The flesh is like that battery: still present but no longer the power source for life. The Spirit is now the power (Galatians 5:16).
Questions your congregation is asking
- 'If the flesh is crucified, why do I still have sinful thoughts and desires?'
- 'How can I know if I am truly dead to sin or just suppressing it?'
- 'Does this verse mean I should expect to stop sinning completely in this life?'
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits at the heart of Paul's argument that Christians are free from the law's curse and empowered to live by the Spirit. It is not a command; it is a statement of fact. Those who belong to Christ have already crucified the flesh. The discussion questions below help the group uncover what that means for identity, struggle, and daily living.
Discussion questions
- From the list in verses 19-21, what do you notice about the 'works of the flesh'? How are they related to belonging to Christ?
- Paul says 'have crucified the flesh.' Why do you think he uses the past tense? What difference does it make that this is already done?
- In what ways is the crucifixion of the flesh both complete and ongoing? How do verses 25-26 help answer that?
- What does the phrase 'with its passions and lusts' teach us about the scope of Christ's work on the cross?
- How does this verse free you from having to earn God's approval through rule-keeping? (See Galatians 5:18, 23)
- What is one specific 'passion' or 'desire' that you find yourself needing to treat as already crucified? How can the group pray for you this week?
- How can we help each other live as people who belong to Christ and not to the flesh?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Romans 6:6 | knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. |
| Romans 8:9 | But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. |
| Romans 8:13 | For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. |
| Romans 13:14 | But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts. |
| I Corinthians 3:23 | and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. |
| I Corinthians 15:23 | But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at his coming. |
| II Corinthians 10:7 | Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, so we also are Christ’s. |
| Galatians 3:29 | If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that genuine Christians have completely crucified their sinful nature, nailing their sensual appetites to Christ's cross so they die with him. This means God intends to save believers from all sin — both outward acts and inward irregular passions and disorderly desires — leaving nothing contrary to love and purity.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that true Christians have crucified the flesh, meaning their corrupt passions and lusts are actually put to death. These desires are destroyed, as if dead, so they no longer exert power over the believer. This is a definitive act for those who belong to Christ.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Christians have crucified the flesh through Christ's cross, not by their own effort. This union with Christ's death breaks the flesh's dominion, though it is not yet fully destroyed. Because believers are set free by the Spirit, they cannot be held under the law's bondage.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the aorist verb "have crucified" can refer to the decisive moment of conversion and baptism. Yet crucifixion is a lingering death, so this initial act begins a daily mortification that continues throughout the believer's earthly life.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note stresses that belonging to Christ means the flesh with its passions and desires has already been crucified. This is presented as a completed action for believers, not a gradual process. The emphasis falls on a decisive break with sinful nature through union with Christ.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill clarifies that "Christ's" means those openly called and regenerated, not all the elect secretly. He stresses that crucifying the flesh does not destroy it but removes its ruling power, like a person on a cross who still lives but cannot move freely. Believers accomplish this only through Christ's grace and the Spirit.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB stresses that believers crucified the flesh once for all at conversion, and they are now to keep it in that state of crucifixion. The Spirit can then produce His fruit in them with less interruption from the fleshly nature.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that Paul does not separate ethical exhortation from his doctrinal argument; serving one another through love is the true fulfilling of the whole law. The Galatians' legal zeal had missed this heart of the law, so Paul shows that love, worked by the Spirit, defines Christian freedom rather than mere obedience to rules.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees Paul's call to love and Spirit-led living as the practical antidote to false teachers and internal conflict. Christian liberty is not freedom for self-indulgence but for serving one another, with the Spirit's fruit guarding against the destructive works of the flesh. The way to avoid consuming one another is to walk in the Spirit.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley teaches that those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh by nailing it to a cross, leaving it powerless to break loose and continually growing weaker. He defines the flesh's affections and desires as all evil passions, appetites, and inclinations. This crucifixion is the defining mark of true believers.