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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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Book Overview
Galatians
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Commentaries
11
Albert Barnes
On Galatians 5:17
18th Century
Theologian
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…
AT Robertson
On Galatians 5:17
Lusteth against (επιθυμε κατα). Like a tug of war. This use of σαρξ as opposed to the Spirit (Holy Spirit) personifies σαρξ. Light…
Charles Ellicott
On Galatians 5:17
19th Century
Bishop
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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Charles Spurgeon
On Galatians 5:17
19th Century
Preacher
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:
They will never agree; these two powers are always contr…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Galatians 5:17
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 …
John Calvin
On Galatians 5:17
16th Century
Theologian
For the flesh lusteth. The spiritual life maintained without a struggle. We are here informed of the nature of the difficulty, which arise…
John Gill
On Galatians 5:17
17th Century
Pastor
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit
By "flesh" is meant, not the carnal or literal sense of the Scripture, which is Origen'…
Matthew Henry
On Galatians 5:16–26
17th Century
Minister
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…