Live by the Spirit and Bear Its Fruit
Galatians 5:16-26
Gal.5.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- δε: CONJ
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- περιπατειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- επιθυμιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- σαρκος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- τελεσητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
Parallels
- Galatians 5:17 (structural): Immediate contrast within the same context: explains the opposing relationship between 'the desires of the flesh' and 'the Spirit,' clarifying why walking by the Spirit prevents fulfilling fleshly desires.
- Romans 8:4 (verbal): Uses similar language about 'walking according to the Spirit' (not according to the flesh) and presents the Spirit-led life as fulfilling God's righteous requirement—paralleling Gal.5:16's promise of not carrying out fleshly desires.
- Romans 8:13 (thematic): States the practical consequence: if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live—echoing Gal.5:16's link between living by the Spirit and not gratifying the flesh.
- Ephesians 5:18 (thematic): Imperative to be controlled/followed by the Spirit ('be filled with the Spirit') rather than by a fleshly impulse (drunkenness), offering a parallel exhortation to walk under Spirit's influence.
- Romans 13:14 (verbal): Commands believers to 'put on the Lord Jesus Christ' and 'make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires,' closely matching Gal.5:16's injunction to walk by the Spirit so one will not fulfill fleshly passions.
Alternative generated candidates
- But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
- But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Gal.5.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- γαρ: PART
- σαρξ: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- επιθυμει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- κατα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- κατα: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- σαρκος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- γαρ: PART
- αλληλοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- αντικειται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- μη: PART
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- εαν: CONJ
- θελητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ποιητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
Parallels
- Galatians 5:16 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same letter: commands to 'walk by the Spirit' so you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh—same dialectic and practical consequence.
- Romans 7:15-20 (thematic): Paul's inner-conflict language ('I do not do the good I want...') thematically parallels the struggle between flesh and Spirit that prevents doing what one desires.
- Romans 8:5-9 (verbal): Explicit contrast between living 'according to the flesh' and 'according to the Spirit,' highlighting opposing orientations of mind and life like Gal. 5:17.
- James 4:1-3 (thematic): Links interpersonal strife to inward desires that 'wage war'—a similar diagnosis of conflicting desires producing wrongdoing.
- 1 Peter 2:11 (verbal): Speaks of 'fleshly lusts which war against the soul,' closely echoing the language of the flesh warring against the Spirit/soul.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to one another, so that you may not do what you desire.
- For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh; they oppose one another, so that you do not do what you would.
Gal.5.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- δε: CONJ
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- αγεσθε: VERB,pres,pass,imp,2,pl
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εστε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- υπο: PREP
- νομον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Galatians 5:16 (verbal): Commands believers to “walk by the Spirit” (περιπατεῖτε ἐν πνεύματι), closely parallel language and concept to being led by the Spirit in 5:18.
- Galatians 5:25 (verbal): “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” echoes the conditional life-in-the-Spirit formula and the practical outcome of not being under the law.
- Romans 8:2 (thematic): Speaks of “the law of the Spirit of life” freeing believers from the law of sin and death—theological counterpart to Gal. 5:18’s claim that those led by the Spirit are not under the law.
- Galatians 3:23-25 (thematic): Explains the role of the law as guardian until faith came and that believers are no longer under the law—contextual parallel to 5:18’s contrast between Spirit-led life and subjection to the law.
- Romans 6:14 (verbal): States “sin shall not have dominion… you are not under law but under grace,” echoing the categorical contrast between law and the new status of believers found in Gal. 5:18.
Alternative generated candidates
- But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Gal.5.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- φανερα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- δε: CONJ
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εργα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- σαρκος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ατινα: PRON,nom,pl,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- πορνεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ακαθαρσια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ασελγεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- Romans 1:29 (verbal): Paul lists the same vices (porneia, akatharsia, aselgeia among others) in a catalogue of sinful behaviors—verbal and thematic parallel to Gal. 5:19's list of fleshly works.
- Colossians 3:5 (verbal): Commands believers to put to death earthly members and explicitly names porneia and akatharsia (and related passions), echoing Galatians' terminology and moral concern.
- Ephesians 5:3 (verbal): Explicit prohibition of porneia and every kind of impurity among the saints; uses the same key terms and reflects the ethical demand against the works of the flesh.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (verbal): A judicial/eschatological list of those who will not inherit God's kingdom includes pornoi and akathartoi—same root vices found in Gal. 5:19, linking moral conduct to community standing and destiny.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now the works of the flesh are plain: sexual immorality, impurity, licentiousness,
- Now the works of the flesh are plain: sexual immorality, impurity, sensual indulgence,
Gal.5.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειδωλολατρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- φαρμακεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εχθραι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- ερις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ζηλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- θυμοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- εριθειαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- διχοστασιαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- αιρεσεις: NOUN,nom,pl,f
Parallels
- Romans 1:29-31 (verbal): A catalogue of vices that overlaps Galatians 5:20—lists enmities, strife, jealousy, anger and related immoral behaviors, using many of the same terms and presenting a similar denunciation of fleshly conduct.
- 1 Corinthians 3:3 (verbal): Paul reproaches the Corinthians for 'jealousy and strife' (ζηλος, ερις), directly echoing two of the key terms found in Galatians 5:20 and linking such attitudes to living 'according to the flesh.'
- James 3:14-16 (thematic): James condemns 'bitter jealousy and selfish ambition' as sources of disorder and every evil practice; thematically it parallels Gal. 5:20's listing of jealousy, rivalries and divisions as fruits of a corrupt spirit.
- Titus 3:3 (verbal): A summary of former 'foolishness, disobedience, enslavement to passions, envy and strife' that mirrors Galatians' emphasis on envy/jealousy, strife and other fleshly vices in the catalogue of sinful behaviors.
Alternative generated candidates
- idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy,
- idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, factions,
Gal.5.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- φθονοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- μεθαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- κωμοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- ομοια: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- τουτοις: DEM,dat,pl,m
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- προλεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- καθως: CONJ
- προειπον: VERB,impf,act,ind,1,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- τοιαυτα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- πρασσοντες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- κληρονομησουσιν: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (verbal): Similar catalogue of sinful behaviors and the explicit warning that those who practice them will not inherit the kingdom of God (near-identical wording).
- Ephesians 5:5–6 (verbal): Affirms that immoral, impure, or greedy persons (and idolaters) have no inheritance in the kingdom—uses the same inheritance/kingdom language as the Galatian warning.
- Romans 1:29–32 (thematic): A parallel list of vices (envy, malice, slander, etc.) and moral collapse that overlaps the kinds of behaviors condemned in Galatians 5:19–21.
- Romans 13:13–14 (verbal): Urges believers to live honorably ‘not in orgies and drunkenness’ and to put on the Lord Jesus Christ—echoes Galatians’ condemnation of κῶμοι (revels) and μεθῆ.
- Colossians 3:5–6 (thematic): Commands believers to put to death earthly passions (sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, greed) and warns that such sins bring God’s wrath, paralleling Galatians’ list and warning of exclusion from God’s kingdom.
Alternative generated candidates
- drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I warn you—as I warned you before—that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal.5.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- καρπος: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αγαπη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- χαρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ειρηνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- μακροθυμια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- χρηστοτης: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αγαθωσυνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- πιστις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- Galatians 5:23 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same unit listing the fruit of the Spirit (adds πραΰτης/μετριοφροσυνη — gentleness/self‑control—and concludes with “against such things there is no law”).
- John 15:1-8 (thematic): Jesus’ vine-and-branches metaphor links abiding in him with bearing spiritual fruit; parallels the idea that the Spirit produces life‑fruit in believers.
- Ephesians 5:9 (verbal): Uses the language of “fruit” (ὁ καρπὸς τοῦ φωτός) and lists qualities (goodness, righteousness, truth) that overlap conceptually with the fruit of the Spirit’s character.
- 2 Peter 1:5-7 (allusion): Presents a chain of virtues (faith, self‑control, steadfastness/patience, godliness, brotherly affection, love) that largely overlaps with Gal.5:22’s list, linking moral qualities developed in the Christian life.
- Romans 5:5 (thematic): Speaks of God’s love poured into believers’ hearts by the Holy Spirit, connecting the presence of the Spirit with the outworking of love—one of the primary items in Gal.5:22.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness;
Gal.5.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πραυτης: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εγκρατεια·κατα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- τοιουτων: DEM,gen,pl,n
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- νομος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 5:5 (verbal): Beatitude 'Blessed are the meek' (πραεῖς) — directly parallels Gal. 5:23's 'meekness' as a valued Christian virtue.
- Colossians 3:12-13 (verbal): Paulic ethical list includes compassion, kindness, humility and meekness (πραΰτης) and patience — parallels Gal. 5:23's emphasis on meekness and self-mastery within Christian conduct.
- Titus 2:11-12 (verbal): Speaks of God's grace training believers to deny ungodliness and to live 'self-controlled' (σωφροσύνη/ἐγκράτεια) — parallels Gal. 5:23's 'self-control' (ἐγκράτεια).
- James 3:17 (verbal): Describes the wisdom from above as pure, peaceable, gentle (πραΰα/πραΰτης) and full of mercy and good fruits — thematically and verbally aligning with Gal. 5:23's 'meekness' and fruit-bearing character.
Alternative generated candidates
- gentleness and self-control; against such things there is no law.
- gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Gal.5.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- σαρκα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εσταυρωσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- συν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- παθημασιν: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- επιθυμιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
Parallels
- Romans 6:6 (verbal): Uses the language of being 'crucified' with reference to the old/self and sin (συνεσταυρώθημεν), paralleling Gal. 5:24's crucifying of the flesh.
- Galatians 2:20 (verbal): Paul's own declaration 'I have been crucified with Christ' (συνεσταύρωμαι) closely echoes the crucifixion imagery applied to the believer's relationship to the flesh in 5:24.
- Colossians 3:5 (verbal): Commands believers to 'put to death' (θανατώσατε) earthly passions and desires—paralleling Gal. 5:24's call to crucify the flesh and its passions.
- Romans 8:13 (thematic): Speaks of putting to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit to live, thematically aligned with Gal. 5:24's contrast between Spirit-led life and crucifying the flesh.
- Ephesians 4:22-24 (thematic): Urges believers to put off the old self and be renewed—the structural/thematic counterpart to Gal. 5:24's call to reckon the flesh as crucified and live according to Christ.
Alternative generated candidates
- And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal.5.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- ζωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- στοιχωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
Parallels
- Galatians 5:16 (verbal): Same exhortation earlier in the chapter: 'Walk by the Spirit' (περιπατεῖτε ἐν πνεύματι), framing the contrast with fleshly deeds.
- Galatians 5:18 (structural): Closely connected clause in the same argument: 'If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law,' linking Spirit-guided life and ethical standing.
- Romans 8:4 (verbal): Parallel language and theology: believers fulfill the law's righteous requirement by 'walking according to the Spirit' rather than the flesh.
- Colossians 2:6 (thematic): Uses the same 'walk' metaphor for Christian conduct—'as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him'—echoing the call to live consistently with the Spirit-formed identity.
Alternative generated candidates
- If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
- If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Gal.5.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μη: PART
- γινωμεθα: VERB,pres,mp,subj,1,pl
- κενοδοξοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- αλληλους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- προκαλουμενοι: VERB,pres,mp,part,nom,pl,m
- αλληλοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- φθονουντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Philippians 2:3 (verbal): Explicitly forbids selfish ambition and conceit (κενοδοξία), paralleling Galatians’ command not to be conceited but humble toward one another.
- James 3:16 (thematic): Links jealousy and selfish ambition with disorder and evil practices, echoing Galatians’ warning against provoking and envying one another.
- 1 Corinthians 3:3 (thematic): Speaks of jealousy and strife among believers as evidence of fleshly behavior, closely paralleling Galatians’ concern about provoking and envying one another.
- Proverbs 14:30 (thematic): Popular wisdom condemning envy (φθόνος) by describing its destructive effect, thematically related to the New Testament admonition against envying.
- Romans 13:13 (thematic): Exhorts believers to avoid quarreling and jealousy in their conduct, a parallel ethical injunction to Galatians’ prohibition of provoking and envying one another.
Alternative generated candidates
- Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
- Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh; these are opposed to one another, so that you may not do what you desire. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are plain: sexual immorality, impurity, licentiousness,
idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you—as I did before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit.
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.