Galatians 5:20 (DRB)

Passage

Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects,

Nearby Context

Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest: which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury,

Galatians 5:20 Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects,

Galatians 5:21 Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "idolatry", "witchcrafts", "enmities", "contentions", "emulations", "wraths", "quarrels", and "dissensions". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "idolatry" and "witchcrafts", 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 "Envies murders drunkenness revellings and such like...", so "idolatry" and "witchcrafts" 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 "witchcrafts" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.