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For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other, that you may not do the things that you desire.
Verse Takeaways
1
The Christian Life is a Battle
Commentators universally agree that this verse describes the normal Christian life as an ongoing, internal battle. Scholars use metaphors like a "tug of war" or a "spiritual duel" to illustrate the conflict between our sinful nature ("the flesh") and the Holy Spirit. This struggle is not a sign of spiritual failure, but rather evidence that the Spirit of God is alive and actively at work within a believer.
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Galatians
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12
18th Century
Presbyterian
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit. The inclinations and desires of the flesh are contrary to those of the Spirit. They draw us away…
Lusteth against (επιθυμε κατα). Like a tug of war. This use of σαρξ as opposed to the Spirit (Holy Spirit) personifies σαρξ. Light…
19th Century
Anglican
For the flesh . . .—In this verse, we have brought out most distinctly the antithesis between the flesh and the Spirit, w…
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Baptist
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:
They will never agree; these two powers are always contr…
A characteristic of the contrast between sarx and pneuma is that the two principles are in deep and irreconcilable conflict. In the sense in which …
16th Century
Protestant
For the flesh lusteth. The spiritual life maintained without a struggle. We are here informed of the nature of the difficulty, which arise…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit By "flesh" is meant, not the carnal or literal sense of the Scripture, which is Origen'…
If it is our care to act under the guidance and power of the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and oppositions of the c…
13th Century
Catholic
After indicating that the spiritual state consists in charity, the Apostle then deals with the cause of this state: the Holy Spirit, whom he says t…
