The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 286

the ren,lcring in our Authorized Version, Dy writing thus the apostle strongly a.o- "in the Spirit," ns the o.ntive is used with centuates the statement that walking hy ..-op«',,cr6a, (Authorizco. Version," walk") in the Spirit is absolutely incompatible with Acts ix. 31; xiv. 16, and with ..-,p11raniv, an indulgence in the inclinations prompted walk, in Acts xxi. 21 ; 2 Cor. xii. 18; or by the flesh. There is probably a twofold the rule accord?'.11{1 f,o which, together with doctrinal inference conched under this em- tlie enabling power by which, our daily phatic statement; namely, Ye will of a behaviour is to be regulated, so as to be surety not fall under the Lu.w'scondemnl\tion synonymous v.ith the phrase," walking after (comp. Rom. viii. 1-4); and, Ye will not (,ca.,.a) the Spirit," in Rom. viii. 4. The need tb.e Law's restraints (1 Tim. i. 9). But meaning at all events seems to be, Let tl:e it is pregnant also with a. hint of rebuke prorupting of t.he Spirit be your guide, and and of practical direction, not unneeded by the grace of the Spirit your strength, in the the Galatians (ver. 15). The article is course of your life continually. This is wanting before /1r16uµlc"', probably because afterwards expressed as being "led by the it is wanting before aap,c6s, as in ,ca;'Ta,Bo>..ijs. Spirit" (ver. IS), and as an "orderly walk- 1e6crµov, Luke xi. 50; a.pxii• K"Tlcr,,..,, Mark ing by the Spirit" (ver. 25). The exhorta- x. 6; tP'Y"'" v6µov, Rom. iii. 20, ete. : so that tion implies two things: first, that the i1r19vµlav crapKOS is put for .,.:i,., ,,r16vµlav Tijr Christians addressed, had had the gift of tTa;p,cor. The verb .,.,,._,tT1J'T• is seleoted in the Holy Spirit imparted to them (comp. preference to 1ro,fra11T• (cf. Eph. ii. 2, eh. iii. 2; iv. 6, where" our hearts" includes ,roaovv'T,s) to express the idea. that it is the persons addressed ; 1 Cor. xii. 18) ; and impossible for one walking b'y the Spirit to next, that this gift would not avail for the carry into full effect a.ny desire of the flesh. actual sanctification of their life without For this is the proper force of the verb diligent endeavours after self-improvement 'T</1.•iv, of which the ever-memorable T•T•• 011. their 01VD pa.rt. Comp. Phil. ii. 12, 18, >..<tT'Ta<, "It is finished" (John xix. 80), is e. "Work out your own salvation [i.e. by your typical illustration. This meaning obtains own endeavours work out your salvation] even in Rom. ii. 28 and Jas. ii. 8. The with fear a.nd trembling; for it is God which apostle seems to concede that the desire of worketb. in you both to will a.nd to work, the flesh may be felt by one who is walking for his good plea.sure." The generality of by the Spirit; nay, even in at least a.n the form in which the exhortation is couched inchoate degree, given way to; but this intimates that they were to endeavour to much he affirms, that it will be impossible live in compliance with the Spirit's prompt- for such a. one to carry it out into full ings in all the branches of spiritual activity accomplishment. This qualified representa- proper to their Christian calling; not only tion of the Christian's holiness is intimated in that of "love" already adverted to, but in the next verse more explicitly. in those others also which the apostle Ver. 17.-For the :flesh lu.steth against presently after counts np in vers. 22, 28. It the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh inco.Ica.tes, therefore, the cultivation of a. ( ,j -ya.p era.pi; i1r19uµei ,ca;.,.a. Tov nv,6µ.a"Tos, .,.1, joyous spirit of filial love towards God, as well lie nvevµa; ICQ;'TU. 'Tijs tTo.p1t6r); for the fles1, as a high strain of virtuous conduct towards doth lust (or, hath desires) against the Spirit; their fellow-men and in relation to their own but the Spirit likewise against the flesh. The selves. In the next clause, the words, ob µ.:/, first clause, " for the flesh hath desires .,.,J..etT11n, "ye shall not fulfil," are by many aga.inRt the Spirit," justifies the mention of (see margin of our Authorized Version)taken " the desire of the flesh" in ver. 16, as in an imperative sense; a.s if it were, walk bein"' e.n experience which Christians in by the Spirit, a.nd by no means fulfil the gene~a.l have still to deal with; as if it desire of the flesh. It is, however, witb. were, " For the flesh really is present still, much force objected to this view that, originating within you desires contrary to although the future with ob is often used for those prompted by the Spirit." Then the a.n imperative, as ou ,c1'.,',j,c1s, ovK i1rwp;cf,tT«s, apostle adds, "but the Spirit likewise Cor, etc., there is no instance adduced of ov µ.:i, • hath desires'] against the flesh;" intimatmg being used in the New Testament in this that, although the flesh was still a.t work sense. We are led, therefore, to adopt the within, prompting desires tending away other view, that the pas8age belongs to that from holiness, that nevertheless wa.s ~o form of sentence in which a.n imperative reason for their giving wa.y to s~oh evil cla.nse is followed by a clause denoting the inclinations; for the Spirit was with them result which will ensue in case the direc- a.a well, originating desires after what was tion before given has been complied with; holy and good; and he would help them u.s e.g. "Come unto me . . . and I will give against those other inolinations tow1uds yon reat." In plo.ce of the simple oi, .,.,>,.t,. evil, if onl;r they would surrend~r ~hem- tT,.,.,, we be.ve the more emphatic form, oi, µ.¾, selves to hie guidance. That this is the .,..,._,crT/.,.,, " Of a. surety ye will not," eto. proper way of construing these two passages err. v. 1-26.] THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. 25,3