Jealousy | A Bible Class on the Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit

The next work of the flesh Paul mentioned to the Galatians is jealousy. “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:19-21).

The Greek term—zelos—literally means “zeal.” The word is used in an ameliorative—positive—way. The idea is eager, vehement passion.

• Titus “told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern [zeal] for me, so that my joy was greater than ever” (2 Cor 7:7).
• “For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm [zeal] has stirred most of them to action” (2 Cor 9:2).
• “As for zeal, persecuting the church” (Phil 3:6). While Paul’s zeal was clearly misplaced—persecuting the church—the term “zeal” is used as we often think about it. Paul had an eager, vehement passion for doing the right thing; he, therefore, tried to stamp out the church.

Zelos is also used in the sense of heartburn, jealousy.

• “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” (1 Cor 3:3).
• “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him” (2 Cor 11:2). While this is a positive jealousy, zelos is used by Paul in the way we typically think of jealousy. He didn’t want anyone else—Satan in context (v 3)—getting their attention. Paul wanted all the attention himself in order that he might present the Corinthians to Christ in an appropriate way.
• “For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder” (2 Cor 12:20).
• “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (Heb 10:26-27). The word “raging” (in the New International Version) is zelos. With this verse, other translations typically do a little better.
  • King James Version: “But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”
  • American Standard Version: “But a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.”
  • English Standard Version: “A fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.”
• “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth” (Js 3:14).
• “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (Js 3:16).

Why would jealousy be listed as a work of the flesh? In other words, what is so wrong with jealousy?

What negative consequences can jealousy have? Jealousy led to the selling of Joseph into slavery. After Jacob had made a huge difference between Joseph and his brothers by giving his favorite son a coat of many colors, he began having ”strange” dreams that about sheaves and planets falling down to him. When Jacob sends Joseph to discover how the brothers are doing, the brothers saw him from a distance. “‘Here comes that dreamer!’ they said to each other. ‘Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams’” (Gen 37:19-20). Only Reuben’s intervention prevented Joseph’s being killed.

What damage does jealousy do in the church?

• What are some examples of jealousy in the early church?
  • The division over preachers in Corinth.
  • Diotrephes.
• What are some examples of jealousy you have seen in the church?

What damage does jealousy do in the home?

How can we keep ourselves from jealousy?

This Bible class was originally taught by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.