independentparticipialrelativepurposecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
The freedom banner — stand, and do not be re-yoked 5:1
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Τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ ἡμᾶς Χριστὸς ἠλευθέρωσεν·independent — the letter's hinge — cognate dative fronted: dative of purpose/destination, not means; freedom is what the freeing was for
στήκετε οὖνindependent — the first imperative of the exhortation — οὖν gathers chs. 3–4 into motive
καὶ μὴ πάλιν ζυγῷ δουλείας ἐνέχεσθε.independent — the negative twin — πάλιν: for ex-pagans, law-keeping would be a return to bondage (4:9); ζυγός, the yoke image for the law
The circumcision warning — severed from Christ, and the agitators rebuked 5:2–12
vv. 2–6 — the verdict: circumcision or Christ, and the stance of faith
2
Ἴδε ἐγὼ Παῦλος λέγω ὑμῖνindependent — the solemn attestation — Ἴδε plus the emphatic signature: the apostle stakes his own name on the warning
ὅτι ἐὰν περιτέμνησθεconditional — ὅτι opens the content; the ἐάν-protasis leans forward on the verdict below (so no anchor) — present subjunctive: if you let it be done
Χριστὸς ὑμᾶς οὐδὲν ὠφελήσει.content — the apodosis — οὐδέν total: to add the knife as necessary is to subtract Christ entirely
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μαρτύρομαι δὲ πάλιν παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ περιτεμνομένῳindependent — the warning notarized — μαρτύρομαι, courtroom speech; πάλιν: the point restated, now to παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ
ὅτι ὀφειλέτης ἐστὶν ὅλον τὸν νόμον ποιῆσαι.content — the testimony's content — ὀφειλέτης: circumcision signs the contract, and the contract is ὅλον τὸν νόμον (3:10)
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κατηργήθητε ἀπὸ Χριστοῦindependent — the first verdict — καταργέω with ἀπό, a pregnant construction: nullified out of relation to Christ
οἵτινες ἐν νόμῳ δικαιοῦσθε,relative — qualitative οἵτινες — 'whoever you are who…'; conative present δικαιοῦσθε: seeking, not achieving, justification
τῆς χάριτος ἐξεπέσατε.independent — the second verdict, asyndetic — ἐκπίπτω: dropped out of the realm of grace; the pair states one severance twice
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ἡμεῖς γὰρ πνεύματι ἐκ πίστεως ἐλπίδα δικαιοσύνης ἀπεκδεχόμεθα.independent — γάρ — the counter-stance: emphatic ἡμεῖς; the triple front-loading πνεύματι, ἐκ πίστεως names the means the agitators abandon; ἐλπίδα δικαιοσύνης, the hoped-for verdict awaited, not manufactured
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ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτομή τι ἰσχύει οὔτε ἀκροβυστία,independent — the ground — both marks devalued at once: the issue is not foreskin either way (6:15; 1 Cor 7:19)
ἀλλὰ πίστις δι' ἀγάπης ἐνεργουμένη.independent — elliptical — ἰσχύει carried over; ἐνεργουμένη read as middle: faith actively at work through love — the phrase vv. 13–14 will unpack
vv. 7–12 — the agitators: the race interrupted, the leaven, the troubler judged
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Ἐτρέχετε καλῶς·independent — the running image (2:2) — imperfect: the good race was underway
τίς ὑμᾶς ἐνέκοψενindependent — the pained question — ἐγκόπτω: to break into the course, tripping the runners; τίς feigns not knowing the culprits
τῇ ἀληθείᾳ μὴ πείθεσθαι;purpose — result infinitive — the interference's effect: πείθεσθαι, obedience-as-persuasion, setting up v. 8's πεισμονή
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ἡ πεισμονὴ οὐκ ἐκ τοῦ καλοῦντος ὑμᾶς.independent — verbless — πεισμονή, a rare coinage off πείθεσθαι: whatever is persuading you, its source is not the caller, God (1:6)
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μικρὰ ζύμη ὅλον τὸ φύραμα ζυμοῖ.independent — proverb (verbatim in 1 Cor 5:6) — a few agitators, or one demand admitted, permeates the whole community
10
ἐγὼ πέποιθα εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν κυρίῳindependent — the turn to confidence — πέποιθα answers πεισμονή/πείθεσθαι: Paul's counter-persuasion, grounded ἐν κυρίῳ
ὅτι οὐδὲν ἄλλο φρονήσετε·content — the confidence's content — they will not, in the end, adopt the other mind
ὁ δὲ ταράσσων ὑμᾶς βαστάσει τὸ κρίμα,independent — the troubler (1:7) singled out in the singular — βαστάσει τὸ κρίμα: he, not you, will carry the sentence
ὅστις ἐὰν ᾖ.relative — indefinite relative — rank and name are irrelevant to the verdict; a glance, perhaps, at the agitators' claimed credentials
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ἐγὼ δέ, ἀδελφοί, εἰ περιτομὴν ἔτι κηρύσσω,conditional — protasis leaning on the question below (so no anchor) — fronted ἐγὼ δέ and the vocative folded in; answering, it seems, a slander that Paul himself still preached the knife
τί ἔτι διώκομαι;independent — the apodosis-question — the persecution itself is the refutation: circumcision-preachers are not persecuted
ἄρα κατήργηται τὸ σκάνδαλον τοῦ σταυροῦ.independent — inferential ἄρα — the absurd consequence; κατήργηται echoes v. 4: add circumcision and the cross's σκάνδαλον is neutralized
12
ὄφελον καὶ ἀποκόψονται οἱ ἀναστατοῦντες ὑμᾶς.independent — ὄφελον + future — the savage wish: ἀποκόπτω, let the knife go all the way (Galatia knew the galli of Cybele); ἀναστατόω, they are upending you
Freedom for love — the whole law in one word 5:13–15
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Ὑμεῖς γὰρ ἐπ' ἐλευθερίᾳ ἐκλήθητε, ἀδελφοί·independent — the banner of v. 1 re-raised — ἐπί: called on terms of, for the purpose of, freedom; the harsh wish grounded in what is at stake
μόνον μὴ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν εἰς ἀφορμὴν τῇ σαρκί,independent — verbless — the verb ('turn', 'use') is suppressed; ἀφορμή, a bridgehead or base of operations: freedom must not become the flesh's staging-ground
ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης δουλεύετε ἀλλήλοις.independent — the paradox — the freed are commanded δουλεύετε: v. 1's δουλεία refused, mutual slavery in love embraced
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ὁ γὰρ πᾶς νόμος ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ πεπλήρωται, ἐν τῷ·independent — the ground — ὁ πᾶς νόμος, the law in its entirety (v. 3's ὅλον τὸν νόμον answered); πεπλήρωται: fulfilled, not merely summarized
Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν.content — Lev 19:18 — the quoted λόγος itself (so hung under λόγῳ); the command Jesus made the law's second table (Mark 12:31)
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εἰ δὲ ἀλλήλους δάκνετε καὶ κατεσθίετε,conditional — protasis leaning forward (so no anchor) — the animal picture: snapping and gulping down; a real εἰ, the quarrels evidently underway
βλέπετεindependent — the apodosis — the warning verb alone
μὴ ὑπ' ἀλλήλων ἀναλωθῆτε.content — μή + subjunctive after the verb of caution — ἀναλίσκω completes the sequence: bite, devour, be consumed; mutual destruction where mutual slavery belonged
Spirit against flesh — the works, the fruit, and keeping step 5:16–26
vv. 16–18 — the walk: Spirit against flesh, and not under law
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Λέγω δέ,independent — the governing pronouncement — the formula (v. 2, 4:1) introduces the section's rule
πνεύματι περιπατεῖτεcontent — the command — dative of means; περιπατέω, the whole conduct of life
καὶ ἐπιθυμίαν σαρκὸς οὐ μὴ τελέσητε.content — the promise, kept with the command under Λέγω — emphatic οὐ μή + aorist subjunctive: a guarantee, not a second command; walking precludes carrying out
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ἡ γὰρ σὰρξ ἐπιθυμεῖ κατὰ τοῦ πνεύματος,independent — the ground — the promise holds because the two powers are at war; ἐπιθυμεῖ κατά, desire weaponized
τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα κατὰ τῆς σαρκός·independent — elliptical — ἐπιθυμεῖ carried over; the antithesis exactly balanced: the Spirit is no passive party
ταῦτα γὰρ ἀλλήλοις ἀντίκειται,independent — the second γάρ-ground — ἀντίκειμαι: set against each other in standing opposition
ἵνα μὴ ἃ ἐὰν θέλητε ταῦτα ποιῆτε.purpose — ἵνα read as result as much as purpose — the conflict thwarts whatever willing you bring to it (cf. Rom 7:15); not flesh-only or Spirit-only frustration
18
εἰ δὲ πνεύματι ἄγεσθε,conditional — protasis leaning forward (so no anchor) — ἄγεσθε passive: led, not merely advised (Rom 8:14)
οὐκ ἐστὲ ὑπὸ νόμον.independent — the apodosis — the letter's watchword (3:23; 4:4–5): Spirit-led life stands outside the law's custody, and needs no return to it
vv. 19–21 — the works of the flesh: the catalogue, and the inheritance warning
19
φανερὰ δέ ἐστιν τὰ ἔργα τῆς σαρκός,independent — the flesh's output — plural ἔργα, scattered and public (φανερά): no discernment needed to spot them
ἅτινά ἐστινrelative — qualitative ἅτινα — 'which belong to the class of…'; the one ἐστιν carries the whole column below
πορνεία, ἀκαθαρσία, ἀσέλγεια,phrase modifier — the sexual triad opens — from the act (πορνεία) to the state (ἀκαθαρσία) to shameless excess (ἀσέλγεια)
20
εἰδωλολατρία, φαρμακεία,phrase modifier — the cultic pair — false worship and the drug-magic (φαρμακεία) that served it
ἔχθραι, ἔρις, ζῆλος, θυμοί, ἐριθεῖαι, διχοστασίαι, αἱρέσεις,phrase modifier — the communal vices — the list's longest run, aimed straight at Galatia's quarrels (v. 15); mostly plurals: repeated eruptions
21
φθόνοι, μέθαι, κῶμοι,phrase modifier — envy closes the discord vices (v. 26 will echo it), then the excess pair: the drinking-bout and the κῶμος, its riotous procession
καὶ τὰ ὅμοια τούτοις,phrase modifier — the open end — the catalogue is exemplary, not exhaustive; the flesh's inventiveness outruns any list
ἃ προλέγω ὑμῖνrelative — the relative gathers the whole catalogue — προλέγω: telling you in advance, before the verdict falls
καθὼς προεῖπονcomparative — the founding visit's teaching invoked — this is standing catechesis, not a new severity
ὅτι οἱ τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντες βασιλείαν θεοῦ οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν.content — the warning's content — πράσσοντες, habitual practice, not a single fall; κληρονομέω turns the inheritance theme (3:29; 4:7) into threat
vv. 22–23 — the fruit of the Spirit: one fruit, nine facets
22
ὁ δὲ καρπὸς τοῦ πνεύματός ἐστινindependent — the antithesis — singular καρπός against plural ἔργα: grown, not manufactured; one organic whole
ἀγάπη, χαρά, εἰρήνη, μακροθυμία, χρηστότης, ἀγαθωσύνη, πίστις,phrase modifier — the column — ἀγάπη foremost (vv. 6, 13–14 made it the sum); πίστις here as faithfulness, trustworthy constancy
23
πραΰτης, ἐγκράτεια·phrase modifier — the column closes — ἐγκράτεια last: the flesh's desires mastered, answering v. 16's promise
κατὰ τῶν τοιούτων οὐκ ἔστιν νόμος.independent — the coda, with quiet irony — no law condemns these (so the law has nothing on the Spirit-led, v. 18); τῶν τοιούτων mirrors v. 21's τὰ τοιαῦτα
vv. 24–26 — crucified flesh, Spirit-kept step
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οἱ δὲ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τὴν σάρκα ἐσταύρωσαν σὺν τοῖς παθήμασιν καὶ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις.independent — the decisive aorist — οἱ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, the possessive genitive of belonging (3:29); ἐσταύρωσαν active: in baptism-conversion they nailed the flesh up (2:19; 6:14)
25
εἰ ζῶμεν πνεύματι,conditional — protasis leaning forward (so no anchor) — a real condition: since the Spirit is our life (3:3; 4:6)
πνεύματι καὶ στοιχῶμεν.independent — hortatory apodosis — στοιχέω, to march in line: life received must become step kept; πνεύματι doubled, chiastically framing the verse
26
μὴ γινώμεθα κενόδοξοι,independent — the step's first casualty named — κενόδοξος, empty-gloried; the transition into the mutual burdens of ch. 6
ἀλλήλους προκαλούμενοι,participial — attendant participle — προκαλέω: challenging, daring to contest; conceit's behavior toward those it deems weaker
ἀλλήλοις φθονοῦντες.participial — the twin participle — φθονοῦντες echoes v. 21's φθόνοι: conceit's posture toward those it deems stronger; the ἀλλήλων triad (vv. 13, 15, 26) ends the chapter
Analysis. Galatians 5 is the letter's hinge, and the page keeps almost everything flush left: short, hammered independent clauses — declaration, imperative, verdict, proverb, wish — with only shallow steps of dependency (nothing exceeds depth 2). Verse 1 stands as a three-line banner: the freedom declaration, then στήκετε οὖν and the μὴ πάλιν prohibition as coordinate commands; Τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ is read as dative of purpose ('for freedom'), not means. In the warning of vv. 2–12 the layout shows Paul's verdicts as parallel zero-depth lines (κατηργήθητε / ἐξεπέσατε as an asyndetic pair) with the ὅτι-content of v. 2 split so its ἐὰν-protasis leans forward, protasis-fashion, on the verdict-apodosis; v. 11's hanging ἐγὼ δέ, ἀδελφοί is kept inside the fronted protasis rather than cut off as a pendens. Verse 13's μόνον-clause is set as a verbless dashed line — the verb ('turn', 'use') is suppressed in the Greek — and Lev 19:18 hangs as quoted content under the one word λόγῳ. In vv. 16–26 the two catalogues mirror each other as suspended columns: the vice list hangs in dashed verbless lines from the ἐστιν of ἅτινά ἐστιν, grouped sexual / cultic / communal / excess, and the nine-fold fruit hangs in two dashed lines from καρπός — one fruit, one column, against the plural scattered ἔργα. Cruxes decided here: the ἵνα of v. 17 is read as result as much as purpose (the conflict thwarts whatever willing you bring to it, not only good willing); the infinitive of v. 7 is result ('so that you do not obey'); v. 16's promise καὶ ἐπιθυμίαν σαρκὸς οὐ μὴ τελέσητε is kept, with the walking command, as content under Λέγω — command and guarantee spoken in one breath.