EXPOSITION OF GALATIANS 5:16-26

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A Paper Submitted to J.B. Hixson Luther Rice University

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In partial fulfillment Of the requirements for the Course TH 530 Hermeneutics

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By David Luzuriaga December 9, 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS I. II. MAIN IDEA AND OUTLINE .................................... INTRODUCTION ............................................. 1 2 3 6 16

III. CONTEXT .................................................. IV. V. CONTENT .................................................. APLICATION ...............................................

BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................... 17

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MAIN IDEA The Christian has a marked path in his Christian journey and those marks have been placed by the Holy Spirit with the only purpose of that our path will be straight and according to the standards of God. OUTLINE: I. There is only one path that the Spirit reveal us: to Walk by the Spirit (v. 16-17) II. There is only one path that leads us to spiritual life: to be Led by the Spirit (v. 18-24) III. There is only one goal at the end of the path that the Spirit reveals: to Live by the Spirit (v. 25-26) IV. Conclusion: The Christian that is being led by the Spirit will walk by the Spirit and will live by the Spirit.

INTRODUCTION The Christian life is comparable to a journey. In many ways this journey has marks throughout the path. Some of these marks are placed there by our own understanding of the Scriptures, others marks are placed by our experiences and others marks are placed by friends and brothers in our own churches. But are these marks the correct ones that lead us to a good end of the journey? In several ways we found some wrong marks that confuse us and stray from the path we must follow. To avoid that we lose our way, God has left His own marks and the Holy Spirit will help us to follow them. We have to understand how to use the new nature that God gave us through Christ Jesus. We need to understand that God has only one rule to direct us through the path of God. By living according to that rule, we will praise God and we will get to a beautiful ending of the journey.

CONTEXT The Epistle to the Galatians is one of the powerful letters that the apostle Paul wrote. The reason is that the people at the Roman province of Galatia were the first Gentiles1 to receive the

Judaizers, who were Jews that did not accept the gospel message (Justification by faith only) and mix it with the Law2 (faith is good, but the people need to fulfills the requirement of the Jews Law in order to be save). Epistle to the This observation is based in the position that the is one of the earliest epistles (known)

Galatians

written by the Apostle Paul. It is important to note that Paul did not mention any of the statements of the Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15). So this is the main reason why the date of this letter is late

forties. The Nelson Bible Dictionary tells us the following approach: Galatians was probably written before the Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15) If it had already occurred (about A.D. 49), Paul would undoubtedly have cited the decision of that council since it agreed with the thrust of his argument in the epistle. If this is so, Galatians may be Paul's earliest (surviving) epistle, written perhaps In A.D. 48.3 Regarding Galatia, it is necessary clarify that in times of

Apostle Paul there were a little of confusion because there were more than one area known by that name. First we have the oldest area known as Galatia which was located at the north-central part of the Asia

GENTILES: All the people who were not Jews were so called by them, being aliens from the worship, rites and privileges of Israel. Smith, W., Smith's Bible dictionary, (Electronic ed. of the revised ed.), (Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 1997). Wiersbe, Warren, Wiersbes Expository Outlines on the New Testament: Galatians, (Electronic edition.), (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1992) 3 Lockyer, Herbert (General Editor) Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary. (Electronic edition.), (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. 1986)
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Minor (Modern Turkey), around the 300 B.C. Some scholars agree that this first settlement was initiated by the Celtic tribes that have been driven out from the Gaul (Modern France). From these tribes the region takes the name: Galatia. Then there is the second Galatia. Around the 64 B.C. The Roman Emperor Pompey won the war with

Mithradates VI (king of Pontus) and establishes a roman army garrison in the region. Then at 25 B.C. Cesar Augusto takes the total control of the region after the dead of Amyntas, the last Galatian King; and created the Roman Province of Galatia at the southern part of the area. So it is important specify which of the Galatians we are talking about, if the older settlement of the Celtic tribes or the larger Roman province. The Biblical Dictionary refers to this problem and concludes in the following explanation: Although the point is debated, it appears that Paul's Epistle to the Galatians (Gal 1:2; 3:1) was addressed to the churches founded by him in the southern part of the province of Galatia (south Galatian theory). No evidence exists to show that Paul visited the region of Galatia in north-central Asia Minor. Although Acts 16:6 and 18:23 are sometimes thought to refer to this more remote northern region, the context of these passages seems to point to southern Galatia (Acts 13-14).4 Now is important to know that Pauls letter was directed to those churches that he founded in his first missionary trip to Galatia the larger Roman province. So those Gentiles were descendants of the

Celtic tribes that were barbarians and were not spiritually oriented like the Jews, nor mentally oriented like the Greeks.

ibid

In this context, the apostle Paul writes a letter trying to explain and exhort to the first Christian Galatians how they need to live their new Christian life. The Judaizers were telling to the new converted people that they need to practice the Jews Law along with the Apostle Pauls faith. So after some years that they were without Paul, they start thinking and accepting the false doctrine that the Judaizers taught them. Dr. Wiersbe gives us a simple outline of the entire book that makes easy to view the Pauls argument. I Personal: Grace and the Gospel (Chapters 1-2); II Doctrinal: Grace and the Law (Chapters 3-4); Practical: Grace and the Christian Life (Chapters 5-6).5 Having these three major division in mind, is easy to see that the intention of the Apostle Paul was to encourage their readers to take the grace of God and live by grace; and do the things in the flesh with the

understanding that the flesh is against the Spirit, that same Holy Spirit that gave them the freedom from the sin, the freedom from the law, and the freedom from the flesh. It is obviously that the churches in Southern Galatia were

contaminated by the false doctrine. But we see also, that there are issues more dangerous than the false doctrine, that going to disease the church, and they are the desires of the flesh.

Wiersbe, supra.

CONTENT I. There is only one path that the Spirit reveal us: to Walk by the Spirit (v. 16) The Apostle Paul begins this section of his argument with a public announcement that requires the total attention of every reader of his epistle. The Greek word lego ( - 3004) it is basically used for give emphasis in the content of what follows to that verb.6 Then the principal idea of what he going to speak is Walk by the Spirit Lets remember that the Apostle Paul is arguing with the Galatians regarding not to go back to the works of the Jews Law. Because the Judaizers had been teaching to the churches in Galatia that they need to do the circumcision in order to fulfill the requirement of the law, Paul exhorts them to stay firms in the freedom that Christ won for them, and not to go back to the yoke of slavery. (cf. Galatians 5:19). From the Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament we know that on the New Testament the word Pneuma ( 4151) is used 379 times; 275 of which, the word refers to The Holy Spirit of God.7 In the context of the Pauls theology, the Spirit refers to the new

covenant and the new life, where the baptized people received the Holy Spirit and is transformed into a new man that understands the role of

Louw, J. P., Nida, E. A. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic edition of the 2nd ed.), (New York: United Bible societies, 1989; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996).

Balz, Horst, Schneider, Gerhard. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament, (electronic edition.), (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1990)

the faith in Christ Jesus and is able to make the difference with the role of the Law. (Cf. 2 Corinthians 3:14-17). Now, the new convert understands that the works that he needs to do under the Laws covenant are no more necessary because with the new covenant through Christ Jesus, the Spirit dwells in him and he needs to give the control of his life to the Spirit. But also, the new convert will experience the struggle with his own flesh. The others natural enemies that the new convert has are the devil and the world sinful system. Those are outside the convert, but the flesh is

dwelling in him. The tow laws will fight in him, the Law of the flesh and the Law of the Spirit. In his view of the situation the Apostle Paul makes a conclusion to finish this battle. His argument is based on a principal truth If you direct yourself through the Spirits Path, you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (cf. Galatians 5:16). And vice versa, if anyone is controlled by the flesh, then he wont be able to satisfy the desires of Gods Spirit. Perhaps Paul had in mind the verse of Ezekiel 36:27 when in the last times Gods going to put His Spirit in his people and Hes going to make them to be able to walk in His Laws. But different the actual they case were is that the the Galatians Pauls where taking and a

path,

mixing

teaching

the

Judaizers teaching. This is the same syncretism that we have also in our days. So, Paul explains in verse 17 that as a human being we can only to serve to just one appetizer, either the Spirit or the flesh, but not to both of them. If we are going to feeding one of them, then

we need to do the Spirits things, so we can live by the Spirit of God. The key word in verse 17 is the word opposition (NASB). An important portion principal the for the Christian The word means life that [to is is obtained used in from this is be

of

Scriptures.

Greek [to

antikeitai

( 480),

This

confront],

then

opposed of hostile to]. In the New Testament occurs only in the second sense (See Gal. 5:17 and 1 Tim 1:10).8 This indicates to us that there is a real hostile situation when a Christian walks by the flesh and try to be spiritual. Actually a real war is happening inside of that Believer, because the forces of the Spirit are fighting against the forces of his flesh. Then the question is obviously: What are the

forces of the Spirit and the forces of the flesh? and how we can used them in our favor?. II. There is only one path that leads us to spiritual life: to be Led by the Spirit (v. 18) This section of the text will gives us the answer to the

questions at the end of the last section: What are the forces of the Spirit and the forces of the flesh? And how we can use the Spiritual forces in our favor to defeat the forces of the flesh? Beginning the verse 18 we find the correct aspect that we need to be directed in order to satisfy the desires of the Spirit of God. In the first point of this paper, we concluded that Holy Spirit shows us only one path

Kittle, Gerhard,. Friedrich, Gerhard. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Translated and Edited by Bromiley, W. Geoffrey. (electronic edition.), (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1972-1989).

where we need go through. But in this second point we are going to see how we need to walk through that path. The simple way that we need to walk through the path of Spirit consists that we need to be led by the Spirit. In the last section we said that we can only to server one appetizer and we need to feed the Spirit through doing the things of the Spirit. Here in this section is necessary explain that the deeds of the flesh are going to struggle in the believer that want to develop the fruits of the Spirit. Note the verb led (NASB) in verse 18. The grammatical context shows us that the subject of the sentence received the action of the verb. That is what indicates the passive mode of this verb, in the original Greek.9 In other words the Spirits action (the verb), that is to led, (the action of the verb) is working in favor of the noun, which in this case is the personal pronoun you, that means the recipients of the letter, the church members in Galatia. This is

remarkable because they need to be led by the Spirit in order to win the battle with the desires of their flesh. In our times we usually think that the Christian life is very difficult because we are trying to do the task of the Holy Spirit, which is led us through the Spirits path. Then we need to give some steps in this path that the Holy Spirit led us, which are: crucified our flesh with Christ Jesus (cf. Gal. 2:20) In the real world this action requires decision, determination of that every day that we live and every action that we do, we will do

Louw, J. P., Nida, E. A. supra.

to honor God and Christ Jesus. So if we determinate to live for God, then we led by the Spirit. The figure of the Law in this verse connects with the flesh in chapter 3 verse 3. There said: having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? The general argument of the Apostle Paul in this letter introduces the concept of the deeds of the flesh as the medium through which the Law carries out its work. What were the Galatians looking for, through make the rites of the Law? Well, to be saved. But the Apostle tells them that they wont be saved if they try to fulfill the requirements of the Mosaic Law, because the law of their flesh (see Romans ch.7) is against to the Law of the Spirit (see Gal. 5:16-17) that pursued the sanctification of the saved ones. And also (and more important) the only way to be saved (justified) is through faith in Christ Jesus, (see Gal. 2:16) and the only way to be sanctified is through being led by the Spirit (see Gal. 5:18) and renouncing to the desires of the flesh that are listed in verses 19 to 21. And finally this entire path that is led by the Spirit takes us to the final stage. The final goal is live by the Spirit. III. There is only one goal at the end of the path that the Spirit reveals: to Live by the Spirit (v. 25) It is well said that the Christians are new creatures, and then it will also well say that the Christians have new life. It is not new for us that the Christians have a new life. But in some cases the Christians are still haunting the old life. Would it be correct for the people that want to walk through the path that the Spirit reveals 10

to us? The Spirit expects form us our response to His call and He wants that we follow His instructions when He is leading us through the Spirits Path. The Galatians were looking for a good thing: Their

sanctification. But they were doing the wrong things to fulfill that. They were doing Laws requirements. That is why the Apostle Paul tells them that that path was not the adequate. The Apostle said to them the way they should live in this earth is by cultivating the ground of the Spirit in order to harvest the fruit of the Spirit. The Apostle said to them, better develop Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (vv. 22-23) At the context of Pauls argument we see that the Christian from Galatia took a different path. In 5:4 Paul exhorts them: You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. This is the position of the Christians who care the opinion of someone else but the opinion of God. The commentaries speak about this issue and clarifying the decision that a Christian needs to make: Although most Jewish people believed that they were born into the covenant by virtue of being Jewish, they recognized that one could be cut off from the covenant by refusing to obey it. But because salvation is only by Christ (2:21), Paul declares that seeking it any other way leads to being "cut off" (NRSV). 10 Cut Off, those two words have much meaning in Pauls theology. Throughout the entire epistle, Paul makes a clear emphasis on the two

Keener, Craig S., IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Electronic Edition), (Downers Grove, IL.: InterVarsity Press. 1993)

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paths: The Law that points to live by the flesh; and The Faith that points to live bay The Spirit. The argument in planted in 3:6-9 where Paul refers to Abraham as the believer and exalts Gods plan to justify the Gentiles by faith only. But it makes clear that God

preached the gospel to Abraham before He (God) had an exclusive nation such as Israel. So the gospel in its essence was preached to an individual and not to a nation, the gospel was believed by Abraham by faith instead by fulfilling the requirements of the Mosaic Law, which was not present at that time. So In Gods plan there is no necessary being from Israel or fulfill the Mosaic Law to be justify and belongs to the Abrahams spiritual family. Dr. Constable gives us a better understanding of this principal: The Judaizers, in emphasizing the Mosaic Law, appealed to Moses frequently. Paul took them back farther in their history to Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation. He cited Genesis 15:6 to prove that God justified Abraham by faith, not because he kept the Law. Abraham believed the promise that God would bless him. Abraham could and did do nothing but believe God's promise that He would do something supernatural for him (cf. Rom 4:3). His faith was his trust in God.11 Having this issue clear, then we have in front two paths, the Apostle Paul seals his argument at the end of chapter 5 when he says: If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (NASB). We have tacitly two ways: through the Spirit by faith, and if not by faith, then the flesh is in compliance with the works of the Law. That is why in 5:26 Paul says: Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. The Galatians were boasting of law

Constable, Thomas L., Notes on Galatians (Electronic Edition http://www.soniclight.com), (Garland, TX.: Sonic Light, 2007), 27

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enforcement, thinking that with it or through it they will be more spiritual while they did not realized they were creating jealousies among them and causing the flesh to turn on in its sinful desires and passions (cf. 5:24) . So Paul exhorts them telling them in 6:4 But each one must examine his own work and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. (NASB) It is the same in our churches in these times. One brother does something good and right away thinks that he is the best of all. And then the rest ones start thinking what will I do to stand out among others? Or what must I do to overcome what the other brother did? And thinking and doing that way, the flesh start awaking lust among the brethren. If we do works form the flesh then we will have just flesh between us, but if we do things of the Spirit, then we will have a plenty full harvest of the fruits of the Spirit. (See 6:8-10) IV. Conclusion: The Christian that is being led by the Spirit will walk by the Spirit and will live by the Spirit. If the Bible gives us a path that is only spiritual then we should follow the Bibles path. In 6:16 Paul refers to a rule. The context of this final blessing is that Paul ask for peace and mercy for those who are walking in accordance with Paul exposes in 6:15 as a new creation understanding that neither the circumcision or the

uncircumcision is anything. The word rule has a particular meaning here and gives the idea of one and straight path that is the pattern for who walks on it.

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Rule. kanon ( 2583) originally denoted a straight rod, used as a ruler or measuring instrument, or, in rare instances, the beam of a balance, the secondary notion being either (a) of keeping anything straight, as of a rod used in weaving, or (b) of testing straightness, as a carpenters rule; hence its metaphorical use to express what serves to measure or determine anything In general the word thus came to serve for anything regulating the actions of men, as a standard or principle. In Gal. 6:16, those who walk by this rule (kanon) are those who make what is stated in vv. 14 and 15 their guiding line in the matter of salvation through faith in Christ alone, apart from works, whether following the principle themselves or teaching it to others.12 What Paul pursued is that the Galatians put aside the

requirements of the law and being directed only by the Spirit. Who walks by the Spirit wont let the flesh take part on his live because those forces are in hostile situation inside the believer. And to be led by the Spirit Paul means that the law awakes the flesh in its deeds with a variety of expressions that are apart from what God wants to us. And finally all those who are led by the Spirit and walk by the Spirit harvesting the fruits of the Spirit in their lives, obviously that they are going to be living all their days and all their actions in the rule of being a new creatures of God.

The article coupled with the adjectival use of the demonstrative pronoun (this) make it clear that the rule or standard Paul has in mind is the statement just cited: Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; all that matters is a new creation. The verb (be in line with, agree with)
Vine, W., Unger, M. F., & White, W. Vine's complete expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words (electronic ed.) (Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 1997) (2:496).
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undoubtedly is used in the same manner as at 5:25 to connote live in accordance with or keep in step with. The absolute use of the masculine plural (all those who) is common in Greek to designate a body of people, with the context or some further descriptive phrase identifying exactly who is in mind. Here, of course, it is clear that those on whom Paul pronounces his peace benediction are those who live in accordance with or follow the Christian teaching that (1) negatively, all external expressions of the Christian faith are to be understood as culturally relevant but not spiritually necessitated, and (2) positively, what matters spiritually is that a person be a new creation as he or she is in Christ and directed by the Spirit. The rule is expressed in terms of the issues of the day, and so speaks of neither circumcision nor uncircumcision. Its application, however, has relevance wherever and whenever Christians are confronted with issues having to do with how ones inward spirituality is to be expressed in the contemporary circumstances of the day.13 Lets give glory to God for His peace and mercy, because He gave His only begotten Son to us that we can be a new creatures living under a new heavenly system and leading by a new Lord, our God. Praise the Lord for His plan and mercy because we do not need any more fulfill a law, we need to trust in Jesus and He gives us a straight path to walk for and He help us to walk also.

Longenecker, R. N. Vol. 41: Word Biblical Commentary: Galatians (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; Word Biblical Commentary (296). (Dallas: Word, Incorporated. 1998).

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APLICATION We can learn from this Bible passage several things. In our days we can see a lot of people try to living by doing things that they believe that doing these things will be closer to God. As the

Galatians we can fall into tremendous mistake thinking that we are doing well and even being honest when we try to won the heaven through do our best effort. But there are not things that we can do to be more spiritual. Instead of it we need to get closer to the Bible to see and to accept by faith that all the requirements that we had to do, have been made by Christ Jesus. It is our part to believe by faith in Christ Jesus that we are new creatures, and as new creatures there are three things that the Holy Spirit does with us. Those three things the Apostle Paul gave to the Galatians in the passage that we just studied. The first thing that the Holy Spirit does with us is leading us. This means that we are to follow His directions that He had planted in our new hearts. Those directions are specified for us in the Bible. The second thing that the Holy Spirit does with us is help us to walk in the path that God want. This path goes in the opposite

direction that the world and the flesh go. The third thing that the Holy Spirit does with us is help us to live according with the rules of God. These rules are for us a way of edifying one another in the love of God.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY Balz, Horst, Schneider, Gerhard. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament, (electronic ed.), (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1990). Constable, Thomas L., Notes on Galatians (electronic ed. http://www.soniclight.com), (Garland: Sonic Light, 2007). Keener, Craig S., IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (electronic ed.), (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press. 1993). Kittle, Gerhard,. Friedrich, Gerhard. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Translated from the German and edited by Bromiley, W. Geoffrey. (electronic ed.), (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1972-1989). Lockyer, Herbert (General Editor) Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary. (electronic ed.), (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. 1986). Longenecker, R. N. Vol. 41: Word Biblical Commentary: Galatians (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; Word Biblical Commentary (296). (Dallas: Word, Incorporated. 1998). Louw, J. P., Nida, E. A. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains, (New York: United Bible societies, 1989; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). Smith, W., Smith's Bible dictionary, (electronic ed. of the revised ed.), (Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 1997). Vine, W., Unger, M. F., & White, W. Vine's complete expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words (electronic ed.) (Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 1997) (2:496). Wiersbe, Warren, Wiersbes Expository Outlines on the New Testament: Galatians, (electronic ed.), (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1992)

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