,14 For the whole law' is fulfilled (i doyqu, 60.) by one precept, EVEN by this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.2 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, have a care, lest ye be consumed by one another.1 16 (Aeyw de, 55.) I command then; Walk by the spirit,' (xa, 212.) and so ye will not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh' lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that the things which ye incline, these ye cannot do. 14 They who stickle for the law, ought to be zealous in the offices of love. For the whole law, as it respects our neighbour, is fulfilled by obeying one precept, even this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as sincerely as thou lovest thyself. 15 But if, from your zeal for, or your zeal against the law of Moses, ye wound and destroy one another's characters, have a care lest ye bring everlasting destruction on one another. 16 I command then, Walk according to the dictates, of your spiritual part, and so ye will not gratify the lust of your animal nature; particularly ye will not gratify the sinful passions of envy, malice, anger, revenge. 17 Ye have great need to subdue the lusts of the flesh: For the flesh strongly inclines men to act contrary to reason and conscience; and these principles are often contrary to one another, so that ye cannot always do the things which your better part inclines you to do. See Rom. vii. 18. Ver. 15.—1. Lest ye be consumed by one another. This Chandler interprets of their destroying the church of Christ; because it would prevent the progress of the gospel, when the first converts quarrelled amongst themselves, and manifested a bitter and angry spirit towards one another. Ver. 16.-1. Walk by the spirit. The apostle often uses the word spirit, to denote men's spiritual part, their reason and conscience enlightened by the doctrines and precepts of the gospel revealed by the Spirit of God; and more especially, when the spirit is opposed to the flesh, as in the following verse. See Gal. v. 25. where living in the spirit signifies living in the gos pel dispensation. Ver. 17.-1. For the flesh. In scripture the flesh, frequently denotes the natural depravity of the animal part of our nature, which is so prevalent in all, that even the regenerated are troubled with the relics of it. 2. So that the things which ye incline, these ye cannot do. The things which we incline, are the things which reason and conscience incline. The expression ye cannot do, does not mean ye cannot at any time do, but ye cannot at all times do for as the apostle tells us, ver 24. They who are Christ's, have crucified the flesh with the passions and lusts: So that for the most part 18 But if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings and suchlike: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. 18 Ει δε πνευματι άγεσθε, ουκ εςε ύπο νομον. 19 Φανερα δε εςι τα έργα της σαρκος· ἅτινα εςι μοιχεια, πορνεία, ακαθαρσία, ασέλγεια, 20 Ειδωλολατρεία, φαρμα κεια, έχθραι, ερεις, ζηλοι, θυ μοι, ερίθειαι, διχοςασιαι, ἁιρε σεις, 21 Φθόνοι, φονοι, μεθαι, χωμοι, και τα όμοια τούτοις" & προλέγω ὑμῖν, καθώς και προείπον, ὅτι ὁι τα τοιαυτα πρασσοντες βασιλειαν Θεου ου κληρονομήσουσιν. they do the things which their better part inclines. Besides, how absurd would it have been for the apostle, to command the Galatians not to fulfil the lusts of the flesh, for this reason, that they could not at any time, do the things which their reason and conscience inclined. Ver, 19.-1. Adultery. This work of the flesh is mentioned first, as being the most prejudicial to society. It destroys conjugal happiness, ruins families, introduces a spurious breed, alienates the affection of parents from their children, and causes them to neglect their education. Ver. 20. 1. Idolatry is justly reckoned among the works of the flesh, because the worship paid to many of the heathen gods, consisted in the most impure fleshly gratifications. 2. Sorcery. Φαρμακεια, sorcery, being placed immediately after idolatry, means those arts of incantation and charming, and all the pretended communications with invisible malignant powers, whereby the heathen priests promoted the reverence and worship of their idol gods, and enriched themselves. In this sense the word is used concerning Babylon, Rev. xviii. 23. Εν τη φαρμακεία σ8, By tby sorcery, were all nations deceived; that is, by a variety of wicked arts and cheats, the nations were deluded to support Babylon in her idolatries and corruptions. The word, φαρμακεια, translated sorcery, comes from φαρμακον, a drug, either salutary or noxious ; so denotes, sometimes the art of curing diseases by salutary drugs; sometimes the art of poisoning by such drugs as are noxious. Hence it signifies among other things, the cheats of such impostors, as by noxious draughts and ointments 18 But, to encourage you to subdue the flesh, know, that if ye habitually follow the dictates of your better part, ye are not under the curse of any law, so as to be punished. 19 Now, the works produced by the lust of the flesh, are manifest: namely adultery; fornication; and all kinds of uncleanness, such as incest, sodomy, bestiality; the indulging lascivious thoughts, and the reading of lascivious books; 20 The worshipping of idols ; sorcery, or a pretended communication with invisible malignant powers; enmities long kept up; quarrels issuing in unreasonable law-suits; ambitious emulations; violent anger; brawlings; causeless separations; the forming of sects in religion, for the sake of gain, in opposition to conscience; 21 Inward grievings at the happiness of others; the taking of men's lives unjustly, and the maiming of their members; drinkings to intoxication; lewd frolicks, and running through the streets in the night time; and such like evil practices : concerning which I foretell you now, as I have often done formerly, that they who practise such things, shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Awful declaration ! pretend to govern men's passions, while in reality they do nothing but in. jure the bodies of those who use their prescriptions. 3. Strifes. Epes, as distinguished from Exg, Enmities, may signify such law suits as proceed from fleshly passions, rather than from the sober dictates of reason. 4. Separations. The word selitions, by which our translators have rendered the Greek word disc, is of too limited a signification, denoting only a state crime: whereas the Greek word signifies, those uncharitable and causeless separations, which break not only the civil, but the religious 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance against such there 'is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's, have crucified the fesh, with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desi rous of vain glory, provok 22 Ὁ δε καρπος του πνευμatos εsiv aɣawn, xapa, εtρήνη, μακροθυμία, χρηςότης, αγαθωσύνη, πίςις, 23 Πραότης, εγκρατεια και τα των τοιουτων ουκ εξι νόμος. 24 Οι δε του Χριςου, την σαρκα εςαυρωσαν συν τοις παρ θημασι και ταις επιθυμίαις. 25 Ει ζωμεν πνευματι, πνευματι και ςοιχώμεν. 26 Μη γινωμεθα κενόδοξοι, αλληλους προκαλούμενοι, αλ ing one another, envying - ληλοις φθονουντες. one another. ties, whereby mankind are united and which proceed from the prevalence of covetousness, pride, and other lusts of the flesh. 5. Heresies being ranked among the works of the flesh, must be opinions in religion, embraced from pride of understanding, and factitiously obtruded on others, in opposition to a man's own conviction, for the sake of worldly interest. See 2 Pet. ii. 1. note 2. and Titus iii. 10. note 1. Ver. 22.-1. But the fruit of the spirit, &c. The apostle calls the virtues mentioned in this verse, the fruit, rather than the works of the Spirit, to shew their excellency. For trees which produce fruit, are on that account valued and cultivated. It is not possible to give a higher praise to any temper of mind or course of life, than to say it is the fruit of the spirit; whether by the spirit, we understand the Spirit of God, or the spirit of man. 2. Gentleness. Xpasotas, from xpact, suavis, jucundus, mitis. This Crellius says is "comitas seu suavitas quædam morum, quæ elucet in ver"bis, in cultu, atque rebus externis ob quam fiat ut sis amabilis." SweetBess of speech and manners.-Gentleness differs from meekness in this respect, that meekness is a passive virtue, and consists in the bearing of inju ries, insults, and provocations, without anger or resentment. Whereas, gentleness hath more of the nature of an active virtue, and exerts itself in a soft obliging manner of speaking and acting, even when necessita. ted to differ from, or oppose those, with whom we converse. Ver. 23-1. Against such things there is no law. Syriac, Adversus hos, lex non est posita. By this observation the apostle insinuates, that the virtues here mentioned are so manifestly excellent, that there never hath been any -nation which did not acknowledge their excellence, and give proofs that they 22 But the fruit which reason enlightened by the Spirit of God produceth, is love to God and man; joy, occasioned by that excellent affection; peace with all men; the patient bearing of injuries; a soft and sweet manner of speaking; a beneficent disposition; fidelity in engagements, promises, and trusts ; 23 Calmness under provocations ; temperance in the use of meats and drinks. In praise of these virtues I observe, that there never was any law or religion, by which they were prohibited, or the persons punished who practised them. 24 Besides, they who are Christ's brethren, (iii. 29.) have, from love to him and admiration of his character, crucified the body with the passions and lusts proper to it. 25 Since we live in the spiritual dispensation of the gospel, and enjoy the spiritual gifts, let us also walk by the Spirit; that is, by the rules prescribed in this spiritual dispensation. 26 In particular, Let us, who enjoy the spiritual gifts, beware of being puffed up with pride, lest we provoke one another to anger; and let us who want these gifts, abstain from envying those who possess them. did so, by making them objects either of their public or of their private institutions. Agreeably to this sentiment he says, ver. 18. If ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the condemnation of any law whatever. Ver. 24.-1. Have crucified the flesh. This is a beautiful and affecting allusion to our Lord's sufferings on the cross. The restraining of our fleshly lusts may be very painful to us, as the word crucify implieth. But the same word, by putting us in mind of Christ's suffering much greater pains for us, touches all the generous feelings of the heart, and excites us, from gratitude to him, to disregard the pain which so necessary a duty may occasion to us. 2. With the passions. Пanuari, The passions, as distinguished from the Prats of the flesh, are malice, anger, revenge, envy, pride. |