rwp - Galatians:5:16-26

rwp@Galatians:5:16 @{Ye shall not fulfil} (\ou m teleste\). Rather, "Ye will not fulfil." Strong double negative with aorist active subjunctive. {The lust of the flesh} (\epithumian sarkos\). Bad sense here as usual in Paul, but not so in strkjv@1Thessalonians:2:17; strkjv@Phillipians:1:23|. The word is just craving or longing (from \epi, thumos\, yearning after).

rwp@Galatians:5:17 @{Lusteth against} (\epithumei kata\). Like a tug of war. This use of \sarx\ as opposed to the Spirit (Holy Spirit) personifies \sarx\. Lightfoot argues that \epithumei\ cannot be used with the Spirit and so some other verb must be supplied for it. But that is wholly needless, for the verb, like \epithumia\, does not mean evil desire, but simply to long for. Christ and Satan long for the possession of the city of Man Soul as Bunyan shows. {Are contrary the one to the other} (\alllois antikeitai\). Are lined up in conflict, face to face (\anti-\), a spiritual duel (cf. Christ's temptations), with dative case of personal interest (\alllois\). {That ye may not do} (\hina m poite\). "That ye may not keep on doing" (present active subjunctive of \poie\). {That ye would} (\ha ean thelte\). "Whatever ye wish" (indefinite relative with \ean\ and present subjunctive).

rwp@Galatians:5:18 @{Under the law} (\hupo nomon\). Instead of "under the flesh" as one might expect. See strkjv@Galatians:3:2-6| for contrast between law and spirit. The flesh made the law weak (Rom strkjv@8:3; strkjv@Hebrews:9:10,13|). They are one and the same in result. See same idea in strkjv@Romans:8:14|. Note present tense of \agesthe\ (if you are continually led by the Spirit). See verse 23|.

rwp@Galatians:5:19 @{Manifest} (\phanera\). Opposed to "hidden" (\krupta\). Ancient writers were fond of lists of vices and virtues. Cf. Stalker's sermons on _The Seven Cardinal Virtues_ and _The Seven Deadly Sins_. There are more than seven in this deadly list in verses 19-21|. He makes the two lists in explanation of the conflict in verse 17| to emphasize the command in verses 13f|. There are four groups in Paul's list of manifest vices: (I) Sensual sins like fornication (\porneia\, prostitution, harlotry), uncleanness (\akatharsia\, moral impurity), lasciviousness (\aselgeia\, wantonness), sexual vice of all kinds prevailed in heathenism. Idolatry (\eidlatreia\, worship of idols) and witchcraft (\pharmakeia\ from \pharmakon\, a drug, the ministering of drugs), but the sorcerers monopolized the word for a while in their magical arts and used it in connection with idolatry. In N.T. only here and strkjv@Revelation:18:23|. See strkjv@Acts:19:19| \perierga\, curious arts. Personal relations expressed by eight words, all old words, sins of the spirit, like enmities (\exthrai\, personal animosities), strife (\eris\, rivalry, discord), jealousies (\zlos\ or \zloi\, MSS. vary, our very word), wraths (\thumoi\, stirring emotions, then explosions), factions (\eritheiai\, from \erithos\, day labourer for hire, worker in wool, party spirit), divisions (\dichostasiai\, splits in two, \dicha\ and \stasis\), heresies (\haireseis\, the very word, but really choosings from \haireomai\, preferences), envyings (\phthonoi\, feelings of ill-will). Surely a lively list. {Drunkenness} (\methai\, old word and plural, drunken excesses, in N.T. only here and strkjv@Luke:21:34; strkjv@Romans:13:13|), revellings (\kmoi\, old word also for drinking parties like those in honour of Bacchus, in N.T. only here and strkjv@Romans:13:13; strkjv@1Peter:4:3|). {And such like} (\kai ta homoia toutois\). And the things like these (associative instrumental \toutois\ after \homoia\, like). It is not meant to be exhaustive, but it is representative.

rwp@Galatians:5:21 @{Forewarn} (\proleg\) {--did forewarn} (\proeipon\). Paul repeats his warning given while with them. He did his duty then. Gentile churches were peculiarly subject to these sins. But who is not in danger from them? {Practise} (\prassontes\). \Prass\ is the verb for habitual practice (our very word, in fact), not \poie\ for occasional doing. The {habit} of these sins is proof that one is not in the Kingdom of God and will not inherit it.

rwp@Galatians:5:22 @{The fruit of the Spirit} (\ho karpos tou pneumatos\). Paul changes the figure from {works} (\erga\) in verse 19| to fruit as the normal out-cropping of the Holy Spirit in us. It is a beautiful tree of fruit that Paul pictures here with nine luscious fruits on it: {Love} (\agap\). Late, almost Biblical word. First as in strkjv@1Corinthians:13|, which see for discussion as superior to \philia\ and \ers\. {Joy} (\chara\). Old word. See on ¯1Thessalonians:1:6|. {Peace} (\eirn\). See on ¯1Thessalonians:1:1|. {Long-suffering} (\makrothumia\). See on ¯2Corinthians:6:6|. {Kindness} (\chrstots\). See on ¯2Corinthians:6:6|. {Goodness} (\agathsun\). See on ¯2Thessalonians:1:11|. {Faithfulness} (\pistis\). Same word as "faith." See on ¯Matthew:23:33; strkjv@1Corinthians:13:7,13|. {Meekness} (\prauts\). See on ¯1Corinthians:4:21; strkjv@2Corinthians:10:1|. {Temperance} (\egkrateia\). See on ¯Acts:24:25|. Old word from \egkrats\, one holding control or holding in. In N.T. only in these passages and strkjv@2Peter:1:6|. Paul has a better list than the four cardinal virtues of the Stoics (temperance, prudence, fortitude, justice), though they are included with better notes struck. Temperance is alike, but kindness is better than justice, long-suffering than fortitude, love than prudence.

rwp@Galatians:5:24 @{Crucified the flesh} (\tn sarka estaursan\). Definite event, first aorist active indicative of \stauro\ as in strkjv@2:19| (mystical union with Christ). Paul uses \sarx\ here in the same sense as in verses 16,17,19|, "the force in men that makes for evil" (Burton). {With} (\sun\). "Together with," emphasizing "the completeness of the extermination of this evil force" and the guarantee of victory over one's passions and dispositions toward evil.

rwp@Galatians:5:25 @{By the Spirit let us also walk} (\pneumati kai stoichmen\). Present subjunctive (volitive) of \stoiche\, "Let us also go on walking by the Spirit." Let us make our steps by the help and guidance of the Spirit.

rwp@Galatians:5:26 @{Let us not be} (\m ginmetha\). Present middle subjunctive (volitive), "Let us cease becoming vainglorious" (\kenodoxoi\), late word only here in N.T. (\kenos, doxa\). Once in Epictetus in same sense. {Provoking one another} (\alllous prokaloumenoi\). Old word \prokale\, to call forth, to challenge to combat. Only here in N.T. and in bad sense. The word for "provoke" in strkjv@Hebrews:10:24| is \paroxusmon\ (our "paroxysm"). {Envying} (\phthonountes\). Old verb from \phthonos\. Only here in N.T.