5:20a

idolatry and sorcery: The two Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as idolatry and sorcery refer to a wrong relationship to spiritual powers other than God.

idolatry: The word idolatry refers to the worship of idols. It refers to worshiping false gods and their images or statues.

(In a broader sense, it also refers to honoring something above God. Paul says in Colossians 3:5 that greed is idolatry.)

Some other ways to translate this word are:

worshiping idols
-or-
worship of the shrine
-or-
worshiping that which it is not proper to worship

sorcery: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sorcery refers to the use of magic words, objects, or rituals to interact with spirits.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

witchcraft (New International Version)
-or-
calling on evil spirits
-or-
using the power which Satan gives

5:20b–21a

hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions: These words refer to wrong relationships between people. They result in conflict between people.

Paul used eight different words to describe these sinful actions. Some of these words are very close in meaning. In some languages, it may be possible to find eight words that match the general range of meaning of these eight sins. In other languages, one word or term may include the meaning of two of Paul’s words. In other words, in some languages, it may be possible to translate the eight Greek words with fewer than eight terms. The meanings of the words that Paul used should guide your choices of words.

5:20b

hatred: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hatred refers to being an enemy of someone and having hostile feelings and actions toward that person.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

People become enemies (Good News Translation)
-or-
enmity (English Standard Version)
-or-
people hate each other

discord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as discord refers to fights and conflicts between people.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

making trouble (New Century Version)
-or-
quarrelling (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
people argue/fight

jealousy: The word jealousy refers to bad feelings toward another person because that person has something (including status or success) that you want. Some languages have idioms for these feelings, like “bitter stomach,” “black stomach,” or “evil eye.”

Some other ways to translate this word are:

being jealous
-or-
people are jealous/envious

5:20c

rage: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rage refers to intense anger and a tendency to express that anger in a way that hurts other people.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

outbursts of anger (NET Bible)
-or-
being angry (New Century Version)
-or-
bad temper (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
anger (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
people are angry

rivalries: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rivalries refers to a selfish desire to be more important than others.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

being selfish (New Century Version)
-or-
selfish ambition (New International Version)
-or-
selfishness (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
people want their own way

5:20d

divisions: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as divisions refers to people dividing into opposing groups. It refers to people separating themselves from people whom they do not agree with. They do this because they are angry with one another.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

conflict (God’s Word)
-or-
dissensions (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
making people angry with each other (New Century Version)

This word is very similar to the next word, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as factions.

factions: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as factions refers to people dividing into different groups that are against one another. People unite with those people whom they agree with, and they are against the group that they disagree with.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

causing divisions among people (New Century Version)
-or-
division (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment on 5:20d

Because the words “dissensions” and “divisions” are so similar, it is possible in some languages to translate these two words as one term. For example:

people divide into opposing groups

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