Galatians 4-5
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Chapter 4
3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world – We are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26), and we are heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29). The law was just our guardian or schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24-25), to watch over us while we were “children.” The basic principles of the world (stoikeia tou kosmou) is also translated “elements of the world” (NKJV). It has the root meaning of “row”. It was used, for instance, of the letters of the alphabet, the elemental building blocks of writing.
6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” - Daddy
13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you – This suggests that Paul went into the region of Galatia because of his illness. We know that when Paul was in the region of Galatia, they tried to stone him in the city of Lystra (Acts 14:19-20). Some think that this was the cause of the illness he mentions. According to Acts 13, Paul came to the region of Galatia –from the city of Perga in the region of Pamphylia and went first to Pisidian Antioch. Perga was a lowland, marshy area. The Galatian city of Pisidian Antioch was some 3,600 feet higher than Perga. It has been suggested that Paul’s physical infirmity was a type of malaria common to the lowlands of Perga.
15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me – His illness affected his eyesight?
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise –
Chapter 5
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery – There is a definite article in front of freedom. It is “The Freedom.”
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature – Living “by the Spirit” means that we submit to his authority, welcome his guidance, accept his correction, live under his restraint, rely on his power, and allow him to unify us with other believers.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; – Acts is plural.
Sexual Immorality is from the Greek word porneia, from which we get the English pornography. Any illicit sexual activity.
Impurity – is from akatharsia, “unclean” and was used medically to refer to an infected, oozing wound. It is the negative form of katharsia, the word from which we get catharsis, a cleansing.
Debauchery – (aselgeia) unrestrained sexual indulgence without shame.
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
Idolatry – (eidololatria) Worshiping man-made images of whatever sort. Witchcraft – pharmakeia, we get pharmacy and pharmaceutical. It was originally used of medicines in general but came to mean mind-altering drugs. Many ancient religious ceremonies involved occultic practices in which drugs were used to induce communication with deities; closely related to sorcery.
Hatred – is echthrai in the plural and refers to hateful attitudes, which result in actions.
Discord – is eris and is among individuals, including wrong attitudes and bitter conflicts.
Jealousy – is zelos This word has also become the English word zeal. There is a good zeal and a bad zeal. This is the bad one! (4:17-18).
Fits of Rage – is thumoi are sudden, unrestrained expressions of hostility toward others.
Selfish ambition – (eritheiai) Started as a word meaning “to work for pay.” Over time, it began to mean the kind of work that is done just for money. Then it was used to describe politicians who campaign for election, not for what service they can give to the government and the people.
Dissensions – dichostasiai Strong disagreements or quarrels.
Factions – haireseis – Originally simply meant “to choose.” Over time, it came to mean someone who divisively expressed their “choices” or opinions.
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God
Envy – (phthonoi) A desire to possess something awarded to or achieved by another and the twisted logic that cries “Unfair!” If I can’t have that, they shouldn’t get it either!
Drunkenness – methai – Probably is referring to the pagan worship ceremonies that many of the Gentile converts of Galatia had once participated in.
Orgies – komoi – Drunken, carousing “parties,” often filled with sexual promiscuity, were associated with festivals of some pagan gods.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control – Fruit is singular.
Love (agape)—Love as shown by Jesus, whose love is self-sacrificing and unchanging, and as demonstrated by God who sent his Son for sinners (Romans 5:5). Love forms the foundation for all the other fruit listed (see 1 Corinthians 13).
Joy (chara)—An inner rejoicing that abides despite outer circumstances.
Peace (eirene)—An inner quietness and trust in God’s sovereignty and justice, even in the face of adverse circumstances.
Longsuffering (makrothumia)—Patiently putting up with people who continually irritate us. The Holy Spirit’s work in us increases our endurance.
Kindness (chrestotes)—Acting charitably, benevolently toward others, as God did toward us.
Goodness (agathosune)—Reaching out to do good to others, even if they don’t deserve it.
Faithfulness (pistis)—Reliable, trustworthy.
Gentleness (prautes)—Humble, considerate of others. Even when anger is the appropriate response, as when Jesus cleared the temple, gentleness applies even force in the correct way.
Self-control (egkrateia)—Mastery over sinful human desires and their lack of restraint.
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