Galatians 5:5 - Exposition

For we through the Spirit ( ἡμεῖς γὰρ πνεύματι ); for we for our parts by the Spirit. "We" who abide in Christ, and continue steadfast in the grace into which Christ has brought us; that is, we believers in Christ, as such. Not, "I and those who go along with me," as e.g. in Philippians 3:17 . "By the Spirit." πνεῦμα can hardly here mean, as in Galatians 3:3 , the element of spiritual life; but much more probably the personal Spirit of God, referred to as inspiring and prompting the action of the believer's mind. The presence of this Spirit has been a]ready described as the distinguishing blessing of believers in Christ ( Galatians 3:2-5 , Galatians 3:14 ; Galatians 4:6 ); while presently after ( Galatians 3:18 , πνεύματι : 22-25) the apostle dwells on the work of the same Divine Agent in regulating the Christian's habits of feeling and action (the dative as in Galatians 3:16 , Galatians 3:18 ; Romans 8:13 ). It is here referred to as evincing the Divine sanction which attaches to the particular action of faith and hope now to be described (comp. Romans 8:15-17 ; Ephesians 1:13 ). Wait for the hope of righteousness by faith ( ἐκ πίστεως ἐλπίδα δικαιοσύνης ἐπεκδεχόμεθα ); from the ground of faith do wait for the hope of righteousness. The term which has the principal accent in this clause is ἐκ πίστεως , "from the ground of faith." This appears, both from the preceding context, in which the opposed idea of "justification by the Law" holds the foremost place, requiring here the confronting mention of "faith," and also from the next verse, which substantiates the statement before us by affirming the all-importance of "faith." In point of construction, ἐκ πίστεως does not appear to qualify "righteousness," although, from the classical text Habakkuk 2:4 , it is so often connected with δίκαιος and δικαιοῦσθαι : but rather the whole clause, "wait for the hope of righteousness." What the apostle is now concerned to say is that it is by virtue of our faith that we look forward to hereafter receiving the hope of righteousness. This, of course, includes our being by faith justified. The word "hope" here designates the object hoped for, and not the sentiment itself. So Romans 8:24 , "hope that is seen;" Colossians 1:5 , "the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens;" Titus 2:13 , "looking for the blissful hope." The genitive, "of righteousness," may be