Galatians 5:20 (ASV)

Passage

idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,

Nearby Context

Galatians 5:18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,

Galatians 5:21 envyings, 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.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "idolatry", "sorcery", "enmities", "strife", "jealousies", "wraths", "factions", and "divisions". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "idolatry" and "sorcery", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "Now the works of the flesh are..." into verse 21's "envyings drunkenness revellings and such like of...", so "idolatry" and "sorcery" belong inside that flow. In Galatians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "idolatry" and "sorcery" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.