Galatians 5:17 (GNV)

Passage

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to another, so that ye can not doe the same things that ye would.

Nearby Context

Galatians 5:15 If ye bite and deuoure one another, take heede least ye be consumed one of another.

Galatians 5:16 Then I say, Walke in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lustes of the flesh.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to another, so that ye can not doe the same things that ye would.

Galatians 5:18 And if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not vnder the Lawe.

Galatians 5:19 Moreouer the workes of the flesh are manifest, which are adulterie, fornication, vncleannes, wantonnes,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "flesh", "lusteth", "against", and "contrary". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "flesh", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "Then I say Walke in the Spirit..." into verse 18's "And if ye be led by the...", so "Spirit" and "flesh" 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 "Spirit" and "flesh" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.