Fathers

Galatians 5

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Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is a debtor to do the whole law. You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace. For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love. You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little yeast grows through the whole lump. I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed. I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off. For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

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What the Fathers say

Galatians 5:23

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

Long-suffering, according to Scripture, apparently differs from meekness in that the long-suffering man, after lengthy deliberation, not hastily but slowly, imposes a fitting punishment upon the sinner; whereas the meek man forgives entirely. For example, Moses, who forgave Miriam and Aaron, was called meek above all men who were upon the face of the earth (Num. 12). Goodness is something more general compared to mercy (ἀγαθοδύνη). …

Commentary on Galatians ↗

Oecumenius

"Against such things there is no law." For he who has achieved these things does not need the law that instructs. For it is higher than that law.

Commentary on Galatians ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

He did not say "against these," so that they would not be thought the only ones—though in fact even if he had said this we ought to understand all the goods of this kind that can be imagined. No, he says "against such things," namely, both these and whatever is like them.

On Continence 9 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Touching what is beneath us, namely, the body, the Spirit directs us first as to the outward acts of the body by "modesty", which moderates its deeds or utterances—concerning this he says, modesty: "Let your modesty be known to all men" (Phil 4:5). Secondly, as to the interior appetite, and concerning this he says "continency", which abstains even from things that are lawful; and "chastity", which correctly uses what is lawful, as a Gloss says. …

Commentary on Galatians ↗