Galatians 5:25

The mention of crucifixion suggests death the death of -the old man", which is the condition and birth of the new life in Christ. Very similar is the train of thought in Colossians 2:3. foll.

If we live in the Spirit, &c. The word -Spirit" in the Greek is a simple dative in both clauses of the verse. Of course it can be understood as such in the former, though hardly in the latter. Lightfoot renders, -If we live tothe Spirit let us also walk bythe Spirit", supporting the rendering in the former clause by the well-known phraseology of St Paul, -to live to God or to the Lord", Romans 6:11; Romans 14:6; Romans 14:8; 2 Corinthians 5:15, and in the latter by the similar expressions in Galatians 5:16 and ch. Galatians 6:16.

Other commentators adopt either the reading of the A.V., or that of R.V. which has -by the Spirit" in both clauses.

The sense of the passage is -If we are partakers of a new life of which the Holy Spirit is the Author, let it be manifested by our submission to His guidance in all our proceedings and actions" or, more simply, -if we really have spiritual life, let its activities be spiritual too."

let us also walk The word rendered -walk" here and in ch. Galatians 6:16, is not the same in the original as in Galatians 5:16. It occurs Acts 21:24; Romans 4:12; Philippians 3:16, and denotes the careful direction of the footsteps a measured walk in contrast to mere locomotion. The same distinction is marked in French between marcherand promener.