Galatians 5:21-31 KJV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:21

Envyings - Φθονοι· "Pain felt, and malignity conceived, at the sight of excellence or happiness." A passion the most base and the least curable of all that disgrace or degrade the fallen soul. See on Romans 13:13 ; (note) Murders - Φονοι· Similarity of sound to the preceding seems to have suggested the word in this association; it is wanting in several MSS. Murder signifies the destruction of human life; and as he who hates his brother in his heart is ready to take away his life,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit - Both flesh - the sinful dispositions of the human heart and spirit - the changed or purified state of the soul, by the grace and Spirit of God, are represented by the apostle as trees, one yielding good the other bad fruit; the productions of each being according to the nature of the tree, as the tree is according to the nature of the seed from which it sprung. The bad seed produced a bad tree, yielding all manner of bad fruit; the good seed produced a good... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:23

Meekness - Πραοτης· Mildness, indulgence toward the weak and erring, patient suffering of injuries without feeling a spirit of revenge, an even balance of all tempers and passions, the entire opposite to anger. Temperance - Εγκρατεια· Continence, self-government, or moderation, principally with regard to sensual or animal appetites. Moderation in eating, drinking, sleeping, etc. Several very respectable MSS., as D*EFG, with the Vulgate, most copies of the Itala and several of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:24

And they that are Christ's - All genuine Christians have crucified the flesh - are so far from obeying its dictates and acting under its influence, that they have crucified their sensual appetites; they have nailed them to the cross of Christ, where they have expired with him; hence, says St. Paul, Romans 6:6 , our old man - the flesh, with its affections and lusts, is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. By which we see that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:25

If we live in the Spirit - If we profess to believe a spiritual religion, let us walk in the Spirit - let us show in our lives and conversation that the Spirit of God dwells in us. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:26

Let us not be desirous of vain glory - Κενοδοξοι· Let us not be vain glorious - boasting of our attainments; vaunting ourselves to be superior to others; or seeking honor from those things which do not possess moral good; in birth, riches, eloquence, etc., etc. Provoking one another - What this may refer to we cannot tell; whether to the Judaizing teachers, endeavoring to set themselves up beyond the apostle, and their attempts to lessen him in the people's eyes, that they might secure... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:21

Verse 21 21.Of which I tell you before. By this awful threatening he intended not only to alarm the Galatians, but likewise to glance indirectly at the false apostles, who had laid aside the far more valuable instruction, and spent their time in disputing about ceremonies. He instructs us, by his example, to press those exhortations and threatenings, agreeably to the words of the prophet, “Cry aloud, spare not; proclaim to my people their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1) What can be conceived more... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:22

Verse 22 22.But the fruit (93) of the Spirit. In the former part of the description he condemned the whole nature of man as producing nothing but evil and worthless fruits. He now informs us that all virtues, all proper and well regulated affections, proceed from the Spirit, that is, from the grace of God, and the renewed nature which we derive from Christ. As if he had said, “Nothing but what is evil comes from man; nothing good comes but from the Holy Spirit.” There have often appeared in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:23

Verse 23 23.Against such there is no law. Some understand these words as meaning simply that the law is not directed against good works, “from evil manners have sprung good laws.” But Paul’s real meaning is deeper and less obvious; namely, that, where the Spirit reigns, the law has no longer any dominion. By moulding our hearts to his own righteousness, the Lord delivers us from the severity of the law, so that our intercourse with himself is not regulated by its covenant, nor our consciences... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:24

Verse 24 24.And they that are Christ’s. He adds this, in order to show that all Christians have renounced the flesh, and therefore enjoy freedom. While he makes this statement, the apostle reminds the Galatians what true Christianity is, so far as relates to the life, and thus guards them against a false profession of Christianity. The word crucified is employed to point out that the mortification of the flesh is the effect of the cross of Christ. This work does not belong to man. By the grace... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:25

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:26

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:24

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