Paragraph 5:16–18

In this paragraph, Paul told the Galatians to allow the Holy Spirit to guide their lives. The Holy Spirit enables believers to not live sinful lives and not live as slaves to the law.

5:16a

So I say: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So I say introduces a further explanation of what 5:13–15 means.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Let me explain further. (God’s Word)
-or-
What I mean is this: (Revised English Bible)
-or-
But I say, (English Standard Version)

This same Greek expression occurs in 4:1a, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “What I am saying is.”

walk by the Spirit: This is a command. The word walk means “live” or “allow the Spirit to direct one’s life.” Paul wanted the Galatians to follow the Spirit’s leading.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Live by following the Spirit. (New Century Version)
-or-
let the Holy Spirit guide your lives (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
submit yourselves to the Holy Spirit

Spirit: The word Spirit refers to the “Holy Spirit.” See Spirit, Meaning 1 in the Glossary.

5:16b

and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will not gratify means “will not do” or “will not fulfill.” Those who follow the Spirit will not do what they would otherwise selfishly want to do.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Then you will not do what your sinful selves want. (New Century Version)
-or-
you won’t obey your selfish desires (Contemporary English Version)

the desires of the flesh: This phrase refers to the desires/wants that come from our human nature.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

what your sinful nature craves (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
what your corrupt nature wants (God’s Word)
-or-
what your evil heart/mind wants
-or-
what you want because of your sinful nature

See flesh, Meaning 5 in the Glossary.

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