John Calvin Commentary Galatians 5:26

"Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another." — Galatians 5:26 (ASV)

Let us not be desirous of vain-glory. The special exhortations which were addressed to the Galatians were not more necessary for them than they are adapted to our own time. Of many evils existing in society at large, and particularly in the church, ambition is the mother.

Paul therefore directs us to guard against it, for the vain-glory (κενοδοξία) of which he speaks is nothing else than ambition (φιλοτιμία) or the desire for honor by which everyone desires to excel all others.

The heathen philosophers do not condemn every desire of glory; but among Christians, whoever is desirous of glory departs from true glory and therefore is justly charged with idle and foolish ambition. It is not lawful for us to glory but in God alone. Every other kind of glorying is pure vanity.

Mutual provocations and envyings are the daughters of ambition. He who aspires to the highest rank must of necessity envy all others, and disrespectful, biting, stinging language is the unavoidable consequence.