Thursday, May 10, 2007

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5: 19-21)

The work of the flesh - the ergon - outcome, output, or consequence of the body acting alone is:

Fornication - porneia - prostitution, especially as a form of worship.
Impurity - akatharsia - unclean, especially in regard to religious ritual.
Licentiousness - aselgeia - shameless lust for another.
Idolotry - eidololtreia - worship of false gods.
Sorcery - pharmakeia - the making of illusory cures.
Enmities - ecthra - acting in a hostile manner.
Strife - eris - contentious wrangling.
Jealousy - zelos - to be heated or angry.
Angry - thumos - uneven and repeating anger.
Quarrels - eritheia - partisan intrique and courting distinction, electioneering.
Dissensions - dicostasia - divisive behavior.
Factions - hairesis - choosing one over another.
Envy - phthonos - a corrupting and destructive attitude toward another.
Drunkeness - methe - intoxication.
Carousing - komos - a riotous procession associated with worship of Bacchus.

When the body is out of relationship with the Spirit it is self-asserting, delusional, oppressive, and divisive.

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