Galations 5:20* Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations<2205>, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21* Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Zelos<2205>, the word which is translated "emulations" in Galations 5:20, has the sense of excited, "boiling" fervor for the thing in question. Of its sixteen uses in the New Testament, eight are in a negative sense, and eight in a positive sense. The question is whether our own "boilings" are Godly or fleshly.
Usages of zelos<2205>, prefixed with an [N] if used in a negative way, or a [P] if used in a positive way:
[N] Joh 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal <2205> of thine house hath eaten me up.
[... It overcame Him and had eaten Him up.]
[N] Ac 5:17* Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation <2205>,
[N] Ac 13:45* But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy <2205>, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
[P] Ro 10:2* For I bear them record that they have a zeal <2205> of God, but not according to knowledge.
[ ... a positive use but in a negative context]
[N] Ro 13:13* Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying <2205>.
[N] 1Co 3:3* For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying <2205>, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
[P] 2Co 7:7* And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind <2205> toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
[P] 2Co 7:11* For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal <2205>, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
[... another positive use but in a sarcastic way]
[P] 2Co 9:2* For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal <2205> hath provoked very many.
[P] 2Co 11:2* For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy <2205>: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
[N] 2Co 12:20* For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings <2205>, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
[N] Ga 5:20* Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations <2205>, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[P] Php 3:6* Concerning zeal <2205>, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
[ ... a positive use but in a negative context]
[P] Col 4:13* For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal <2205> for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
[P] Heb 10:27* But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation <2205>, which shall devour the adversaries.
[ ... another positive use in a negative context]
[N] Jas 3:14* But if ye have bitter envying <2205> and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
[N] Jas 3:16* For where envying <2205> and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
There is positive use of "emulation" in Romans 11:14 from another word rooted in zelos<2205>. Yet this is directed at those in the flesh and hardly seems appropriate for those in the Spirit.
Romans 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation<3863> them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
It's easy to see the negative uses [N] as negative but I couldn't say the positive uses of zelos should encourage a Christian to have fervor. The uses in Romans 10:2, Romans 11:14, and Phillipians 3:6 are all taking about those who are not saved. The zeal of the unsaved should not be the example for the saved.
The uses in 2 Corinthians 7:7; 7:11; 9:2; and 11:2 are talking about a Godly zeal by men and God's work. We all recognize the excitement and dedication of those working for God as appropriate. But at the same time I suspect this zeal is rooted in something special to make it different in nature and character than the "zelos" behaviors warned against in the negative uses of this word.
The uses in John 2:17 and Hebrews 10:27 are clearly taking about God's own zeal. God is pure and when stirred up no evil will be brought to the surface because none is there. That's not so certain for us men (and women); I'd say it's prudent in most all situations to maintain a calm demeanor, and neither let anyone stir you up without good cause.
As you might have surmised, I'd have to conclude that man being zealous and fervent over anything - meaning excited, loud, and showy fervor - is most likely the fruit and sign of the flesh and not of the Spirit.
================== Strong's Information ==================
2205 zelos {dzay'-los}
from 2204; TDNT - 2:877,297; n m/n
AV - zeal 6, envying 5, indignation 2, envy 1, fervent mind 1,
jealousy 1, emulation 1; 17
1) excitement of mind, ardour, fervour of spirit
1a) zeal, ardour in embracing, pursuing, defending anything
1a1) zeal in behalf of, for a person or thing
1a2) the fierceness of indignation, punitive zeal
1b) an envious and contentious rivalry, jealousy
2204 zeo {dzeh'-o}
a primary verb; TDNT - 2:875,296; v
AV - be fervent 1, fervent 1; 2
1) to boil with heat, be hot
1a) used of water
1b) metaph.
1b1) used of boiling anger, love, zeal, for what is good or bad etc.
1b2) fervent in spirit, said of zeal for what is good
3863 parazeloo {par-ad-zay-lo'-o}
from 3844 and 2206; TDNT - 2:881,297; v
AV - provoke to jealousy 3, provoke to emulation 1; 4
1) to provoke to
1a) to provoke to jealously or rivalry
1b) to provoke to anger
3844 para {par-ah'}
a root word; TDNT - 5:727,771; prep
AV - of 51, with 42, from 24, by ... side 15, at 12, than 11,
misc 45; 200
1) from, of at, by, besides, near
2206 zeloo {dzay-lo'-o}
from 2205; TDNT - 2:882,297; v
AV - zealously affect 2, more with envy 2, envy 1, be zealous 1,
affect 1, desire 1, covet 1, covet earnestly 1, misc 2; 12
1) to burn with zeal
1a) to be heated or to boil with envy, hatred, anger
1a1) in a good sense, to be zealous in the pursuit of good
1b) to desire earnestly, pursue
1b1) to desire one earnestly, to strive after, busy one's self about him
1b2) to exert one's self for one (that he may not be torn from me)
1b3) to be the object of the zeal of others, to be zealously sought after
1c) to envy
.