Galatians 5:7 (ASV)

Passage

Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?

Nearby Context

Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.

Galatians 5:7 Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?

Galatians 5:8 This persuasion [came] not of him that calleth you.

Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "running", "well", "hindered", "should", "obey", and "truth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "running" and "well", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth..." into verse 8's "This persuasion came not of him that...", so "running" and "well" 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 "running" and "well" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.