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[1] For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
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[13] For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. [14] For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." [15] If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
[16] Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. [17] For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, [21] envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
[22] By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
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This is the Epistle selection to be read aloud on the third Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 8), Year C, according to the lectionary for the Episcopal Church. It will follow either the Track 1 or Track 2 pairings of Old Testament and Psalm readings. If an individual church is on the Track 1 path, then they will hear read aloud from Second Kings, “Then Elijah said to [Elisha], "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As Yahweh lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”’ That will be followed by Psalm 77, which sings: “The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; your arrows flashed to and fro”. If an individual church is on the Track 2 path, then the Old Testament selection will include this: “Yahweh said to Elijah, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.” Following that will be sung Psalm 16, which says, “Protect me el, for I take refuge in you.” All readings chosen will accompany the Gospel selection from Luke, where is read: “When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”
[Forewarning]
This is a L O N G commentary. It is a long reading selection that needs to be fully grasped. All casual Twitter expectations [140 character limit] will quickly be found not present here. This commentary will bore you to death. Run along. Go somewhere else. Shoo fly!
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These selected verses from Galatians will only be read on the Proper 8 Sunday, in the Year C. As it omits verses two through twelve, those words will never be read aloud in any Episcopal Church, as part of a Sunday service. They are important to realize; but the responsibility to read them is placed on all those who deem themselves to be “Christians.” A Church is nothing more than a sampler platter of opinions and Scriptural readings (mostly in selected parts), which should lead one to ask questions as to the meanings. Sermons are little more than personal experiences of a priest told (when not political propaganda preached to a choir of governmental believers), which can never be fully understood by anyone else. The role of a priest is to teach, not self-aggrandize (assuming a priest knows the meaning to preach). Christianity is a way of life (not a club joined); and, Scripture is the insight that must be learned, for that way of life to be realized. One must be taught how to personally find the truth of that way; not be told how much fun a priest's life is. Therefore, the entire Holy Bible is meant to be discerned, more than read; and, all discernment demands a higher teacher – the Spiritual presence of Yahweh elohim.
Verse one of this selection is part of the reading because it sets the theme of this chapter in Paul’s letter to the true Christians he left behind in Galatia. That theme is set upon “freedom.” This topic makes this reading be one that can easily be twisted and contorted to fit personal agendas that bow down before the altar of “freedom,” as the philosophy of man that grew like a mushroom in the eighteenth century. It can become a motivator for patriotic sermons that worship a false concept … the god Freedom … one Paul knew nothing of. The Romans still occupied much of the world Paul knew; and, Jews owned no land to claim to be ‘free’ on. Simply because of the laws of physics, no one on earth is ‘free’ to effortlessly fly through the air, simply by thought powers. Everyone is enslaved by gravity, while on earth. Therefore, this human concept needs to be thrown out and understood not to be what Paul meant; and, when that realization has been made, then true discernment can begin.
Because verse one sets the theme of this chapter, it must be read as Paul wrote it, not as some translation service paraphrases it. The Greek written by Paul is this:
“Tē eleutheria , hēmas Christos ēleutherōsen ; stēkete , oun , kai mē palin zygō
douleias enechesthe .”
My English translation of this is:
“This to freedom , our souls Christ it has set free ; you stand firm , therefore , kai not
further to a heavy burden of slavery your souls are ensnared .”
In this, the first word is a capitalized article, which takes on a divine elevation to the Spiritual level as “This.” Such a first word can only be divinely elevated as a word reminding one of that which has previously been written, while also being the focus upon which further insight is shared. The ending part of chapter four places focus on Hagar and Sarah, where Hagar was referred to by Paul as a “slave women” (from “paidiské,” meaning “a young girl, maidservant,” implying in usage “a female slave, maidservant, maid, young girl.”). The final verse in chapter four states (in literal English): “therefore, brothers, not we are of slave woman children [Christians are not the descendants of Ishmael], but of this of not under restraint.” Therefore, “This” must be seen as Paul expounding on this concept of “not under restraint.”
The second word in verse one is “eleutheria,” which is the Dative form of the word that says, “to liberty, freedom,” with a strong intent to imply “a state of freedom from slavery.” Thus, Paul begins a new chapter with the expectations of the readers of his letter to know he had previously reviewed Scriptural history [from Genesis] that spoke of Sarah’s inability to become pregnant (as Sarai), which allowed Hagar to be a princess gift to Abram (from the pharaoh of Egypt), who bore him the son Ishmael. The implication of this word written in a new chapter (rather than be continued in chapter four) says the story of Ishmael’s descendants was of those of slavery, while the descendants of Abraham and Isaac were given the ‘freedom’ to be Yahweh’s children. Not being outcast (for sins committed) means 'freedom' is relative to the teachings of selected Patriarchs (holy ones only).
This one word, “to freedom,” is now Paul addressing the children descended from Jesus, whereas those born of Jacob are to be seen as being cast away, in the same way as were Hagar and Ishmael. This makes “This” take on that divine elevation of Yahweh, as the path “to freedom” is the future becoming a reflection of the past, where the two sons of Abram (from two mothers) reflects on the duality of a soul alone and a soul married to Yahweh’s Spirit. The truth of “freedom” is then relative to this Spiritual relationship with Yahweh.
Following a comma mark, separating the first two words from the third, Paul wrote “hēmas.” This is commonly a possessive pronoun that is translated (in simpleton English) as “us,” the first-person plural form of “egó” (“I”). Because Paul wrote divinely inspired letters, it is easy to get lost in the mundane of English translations and forget all about how every word written comes through his hand onto paper from the Godhead (the Christ Mind). As such, every word written has a deeper meaning. The simple “us” can be rewritten as “ourselves,” with the “selves” part then seen as Yahweh pointing His focus on “us” Spiritually, which refers to “our souls.” The "souls" Paul wrote to were those in a relationship with Yahweh, which allowed them to find "freedom." To see this translation then leading to “Christ he has set free,” this clearly says the chapter five direction of Christian “freedom” is based on a relationship with “Christ.”
It is the word “Christos” that so many struggle with understanding. The capitalization makes it appear to be a name. It so often is associated with the name “Jesus” that it becomes an automatic reflex to refer to “Jesus” by his ‘last name’ – “Christ.” The Greek capitalization simply alerts the divinely assisted reader to realize this is a signal to read divine elevation to the word “christos,” which (in the lower-case) means “anoint with olive oil.”
I will repeat one more time: David was a “christos” when Samuel poured oil from a horn on his head. David was made a “Christos” when Yahweh poured out His Spirit on David’s soul. The two are quite different; and, at no time can a “Christos” of Yahweh be limited to only being Jesus. David proves this point. Yahweh is limitless; but to be a "Christos," one has to be those born into His family [like Isaac] and not cast away [like Ishmael]. Abraham and Sarah were each a "Christos." Hagar was not. Therefore, Paul was not saying any souls [“ourselves” or “us”] had been set free by Jesus, because Jesus was also a “Christos.” All who are reborn as him must likewise be a “Christos.”
By understanding this basic tenet of true “Christianity,” it is Yahweh setting souls free, when His Spirit makes one become a “Christos.” When Yahweh took clay and dust in Eden and formed it into the shape of “man” [“adam”], He then breathed Himself (as a Yahweh elohim) into that form, to become its soul. This means Adam (as "Jesus" – "Yahweh Saves") was the first “Christos” made by Yahweh.
Yahweh has the power to make every soul in human flesh a “Christos,” if they all fall in love with Him, get His proposal of marriage, and then say, “Yes,” to all of the laws in the Covenant. Paul and those true Christians in Galatia had made that commitment to Yahweh; and therefore, Yahweh had made each and all [“our souls”] be “set free” from the “slavery” of a body of flesh.
Following that most basic statement by Paul, in his theme for chapter five, he separated that thought from that following (with a semi-colon), such that a new but related statement follows. That begins simply by stating, “you stand firm.” The metaphor of “to stand” means to get up off the ground and “stand.” That becomes a statement of a soul being divinely elevated, not a body of flesh; although, a body of flesh will also rise, along with its soul. This “upright” position can then be seen as the onset of the ways of righteousness, which become “firmly” entrenched in one’s soul. That “firmness” can be attributed to the resurrected soul of Jesus within one’s soul. The divine presence of Jesus – in a Christ, like his body was – leads that soul-body to “stand” and be “firm” in one’s way of righteousness.
Following a comma mark, Paul then wrote the single word that translates as “therefore” or “then” (from “oun”). That one-word statement becomes focus on a sequence of events, which is the transfiguration from human sinner to upright saint. As one word, Paul said Christians are changed. What is “there” now is not what was “there before.”
To follow that statement of change, Paul wrote a comma, followed by the word “kai.” The word “kai” does not say “and.” It is a marker word that signals importance to follow. That alert then has Paul saying the change in “their souls” was important because “not further to a heavy burden of slavery your souls are ensnared.” Here, the use of the word translating as “of slavery,” in the Genitive case, says “slavery” was not human, but spiritual. The soul was possessed by the material realm, where living up to the Covenant was impossible for a soul alone in a body of flesh to accomplish. The possession (“of slavery”) means their souls (“themselves” or “us,” including Paul’s) were each possessed by lesser spirits than Yahweh’s elohim. Therefore, the change, which would make one “stand firm” was the soul having committed to Yahweh in marriage, which means those souls doing so would be freed from ever having to come back into bodies of flesh – reincarnation.
This is the theme that the rest of the verses flow from. This must be understood. It must be seen that Paul has made absolutely zero references to “Jesus” at this point [He states that name twice in chapter five, only once in the verses read aloud on this Sunday]. This means everything that follows pertains to Yahweh having become the Husband of every soul that can truly claim to be “Christian.” The word “Christ” must be seen commonly to mean: 1.) a soul-wife of Yahweh; 2.) a soul cleansed in Holy Baptism by Yahweh’s Spirit; and, 3.) a soul that will give birth to the resurrection of the Yahweh elohim that is Adam-Jesus, such that one’s wifely soul will become the Virgin mother of the Son of Yahweh.
In verse thirteen, Paul began it with a capitalized “Hymeis,” which is the second-person version of the first-person (in lower-case) version used in verse one [“hēmas”]. Here, again, the second-person of “egó” is “su” (“you”), with the plural number turning that (in languages other than English) into a clear statement of “yourselves.” Again, anywhere in Scripture a “self” is found the focus, the spiritual essence is placed on a “soul.” This, verse thirteen is referring to the true Christians in Galatia (to whom Paul wrote), but all readers after publication means Paul wrote this lasting letter to “you” (English plural), meaning “your souls.”
Paul then wrote, “indeed on the basis of to freedom your souls were called,” the verb translated as “called” can equally say “invited” or “summoned,” but a less used translation says “named.” One is “called” by one’s name, thus what Paul wrote can be less about answering a “call” from Yahweh, and more about Paul saying all true Christians “indeed upon to freedom your souls were named.” That says, if one is to be promised eternal life beyond death of the physical body, then one’s soul will have married Yahweh and taken on His “Name” in union – like all wives do … taking their husband’s “name” in marriage. As such, a soul is “called” to marry Yahweh.
When one sees how ALL souls trapped in bodies of human flesh, enslaved in the material realm, are potentially wives to Yahweh, then one sees that all souls in bodies of flesh are feminine in essence. They are ‘girlie-girls,’ whether they have male sex organs or female sex organs. Souls cannot reproduce, in the same way that angels [“elohim”] do not need to propagate their ‘species.’ Only bodies of flesh need to reproduce, to make room for newly returned failed souls – the lesson of reincarnation is: You do not go to heaven filthy dirty from sins.
Souls, on the other hand are eternal, thus of masculine essence; but being put into a body of flesh is like multiplying a positive by a negative. The result is a negative, which is feminine. Therefore, both bodies of flesh that are male and female are souls that are wives-to-be.
When baby Jesus is resurrected within one’s soul, that trumps the soul-body femininity, making a saint have the masculine essence of Jesus. Every true Christian is Jesus reborn, thus of masculine essence. This overrides the limitation of being males and females in bodies of flesh. Thus, ALL souls resurrected as Jesus (after having become a Christ in divine marriage to Yahweh’s Spirit) become Jesus reborn; and, Jesus is masculine. So, ALL souls reborn as Jesus are “brothers.”
Yahweh has no Spiritual “daughters.” Mankind means being His daughters. Eve was not a daughter of Yahweh. She was Adam reproduced into a female form. Adam and Eve were thus “brothers” in Christ, both made by the hand of Yahweh. Neither came out of a woman’s womb; but the Earth was their Mother (offering up Her clay).
Realizing this, one will notice that Paul wrote “adelphoi” as a one-word statement. When it follows him stating “your souls” taking on the “name” of Yahweh, that “brotherly name” is Jesus. The “name” “Jesus” means “Yah Saves.” Being “Saved” by “Yahweh” means “your souls” have been “given freedom” from the slavery of the material world.
It is the modern Episcopal Church that had added “and sisters.” The only reason for an organization to pander to women is it is going out of business and wants to keep as many still attending their churches (all those rich widows) to feel welcomed, while not feeling a need to be a female in flesh (sterile as that body of flesh is after menopause) “called’ to be reborn as Jesus. Any religious organization that wants to keep its flock from achieving eternal life is one of the problems of the material world, certainly not one of the solutions. If I were a woman and I were still going to an Episcopal Church, whenever I heard someone read aloud “brothers and sisters” (when not written in Scripture), I would “stand firm” and yell out, “Brothers!” But, that is me; and, most rational women would prefer to talk to her female or gay priest privately; and, tell it or her, “My money ceases, unless you read the text of Scripture as written.”
Paul kind of said that, after a semi-colon is placed after “brothers.” There he began a new thought, one relative to the first statement. In that Paul said, “alone not this freedom for an opportunity to this flesh.” In that, the use of “monon” is translated as “alone,” where the primary translation is “merely.” As “alone” (an implied in usage validity), this says “brothers” implies “your souls” are no longer single swingers, like they were before. The words together, saying “alone not,” says (by inference) more than one soul is yours; and, that is a big change. That says Jesus has been resurrected within one’s soul (in all the plural number of Christians), which is “not this freedom,” meaning the rebirth of Jesus becomes one’s soul’s new slave master.
The “freedom” is not some ethereal philosophy – some kumbaya bull-crap. In the same way that the children led by Moses were freed from slavery to Egypt, to then become re-enslaved to Yahweh, through Moses, there is no freedom in the world. The meaning of "freedom" can only be known through death of the physical, when the soul is released. Here, Paul wrote that being all “brothers” (both men and women in flesh) Spiritually means souls still in bodies of flesh (live, by being raised in the dead) find: “not freedom as opportunity of the flesh.” This says "freedom" does not set one free to sin and sin some more. No siree! It means more slavery, as a minister to Yahweh – Jesus reborn; so, no more sinning is allowed.
To finish verse thirteen, Paul followed a period mark with a new statement about what is “not to this flesh.” There, he wrote “on the other hand because of of this of love,” where the Genitive case stating “of this” and “of love” are Paul saying “your souls” have been possessed spiritually, “of love.” The “love” of Yahweh is indescribable, according to human flesh definitions of “love.” This “love” means the presence of the Son of Yahweh. It is that “love” that makes one “stand firm” and walk righteously. That presence is because of divine marriage between a soul and Yahweh, where “love” is always the bond that binds two together. The child of Yahweh is His “love.” Jesus is the "love" Paul knew (and also did the true Christians of Galatia).
Verse fourteen then says, “this indeed law within to one to utterance it is completed within to this”. This says the “love” means saying “I do” to the Covenant; but after that commitment, the inner “love” is what makes every “law be completed.” That constant fulfillment is because of the presence of Yahweh’s “love” – Jesus. In that, twice is written "en,” which means “within” one’s body of flesh – “in” the soul. Jesus is “within” one’s soul, as that is where his soul is resurrected. That is the “love” that makes one walk the earth as Jesus reborn. It lasts until one’s soul is released to join the Father, having served Him as the Son.
Following a colon mark, Paul clarified this as a reference to the two words that ended verse thirteen: “you be a slave to one another.” Here, Paul began this statement with a capitalized “Agapēseis.” This is a second-person singular, future indicative form of “agapaó,” meaning “to love.” This is Paul speaking individually to each true Christian [not anyone of lesser status], where the divine elevation of “You will love” says “you will be where love resurrects.” That makes “You” be Jesus reborn; so, “You will love” says the “love” of Jesus will lead “You.”
To make that clearer, Paul then wrote: “this near of your soul even as your soul.” That clarity comes when one does not translate this to say, “You will love your neighbor as yourself,” when that only leads scholars to ask, “Who is my neighbor?” The same words written say, “You will love this near of your soul even as your soul;” and, that says Jesus is one with one’s soul, so his “love” is “near” within. It is so “near” that the soul of Jesus is “even as your soul [yourself],” due to his possessing it as one’s Yahweh elohim.
When one understands this “new commandment” [“Entolēn kainēn,” from John 13:34] Jesus spoke these word to Pharisees that tried to trick Jesus into heresy. This new understanding, where "neighbors" means one's own soul living 'next door' to the soul of Jesus [a Spiritual 'duplex' within one body of flesh], can no longer be used by Churches, in attempt to condone every sin on planet earth … “because that’s what Jesus said to do.” A “neighbor” is not another human being. It is the soul of Jesus in a true Christian’s soul, one so “near” the other that they are one and the same.
The “love” is Jesus and only his resurrected soul, created by the hand of Yahweh. Only being reborn as Jesus can one go about the world as a state of love, while never once condoning sin of any kind. One in ministry in the name of Jesus speaks the truth to seekers, so their hearts will fall in human and spiritual love with Yahweh and marry Him. If that happens, the “love” of Jesus will be one’s own “neighbor.” Thus, one loves Jesus [the soul "near"] as oneself, because one's soul has become where the soul of Jesus has resurrected. This "love" is what raised the dead to life.
In verse fifteen, Paul wrote this: “if now your souls one another you harm seriously kai squander , you perceive , not under of one another you could be destroyed .” This says nothing about one person mistreating another person. The Greek word “allēlous” is written in the Accusative Masculine Plural, with the root word meaning “one another.” The plural form means one must “refer back to a plural subject, so one is expressing an action done in two directions.” [Wiktionary] This means this word refers to “your souls” having two directions to go: be one with the soul of Jesus [love “one another” – him and you] or reject being one with Jesus and be two separates [love self, hate Jesus]. This is then Paul saying that “if” (a conditional that is up to the individual’s decision) one “perceives” one’s ways of life are “seriously harming” one’s soul, where it importantly feels like a good thing is being “squandered,” then one must take “a look” and “see” where oneself is ”now.” “If” one’s soul is “not” joined with the soul of Jesus, then one’s soul is in danger of being “destroyed.”
In these two verses, it is important to realize that Paul was not one of the disciples that followed Jesus in his ministry in the flesh. While it is possible (if not probable) that Paul heard Peter [he stayed with him in Jerusalem for fifteen days] or some other Apostle [he met with James also] tell him this “last commandment,” that Apostle would have been able to discern the truth of that order at that time, because all Apostles are Jesus reborn. The soul of Jesus raised within Paul’s soul means Jesus could have told Paul the same command, without Paul ever needing to hear it from someone else. The truth of Christianity says hearsay or gossip is not how soul are saved.
In my main resource for the Greek and Hebrew texts (BibleHub Interlinear), before verse sixteen is a header that they insert. It says, “Living by the Spirit,” and that heads the remaining verses in chapter five. In the NRSV presentation, verse sixteen is headed as “The Works of the Flesh.” Before verse twenty-two, they add a header that says, “The Fruit of the Spirit.” All such headers are derived from the verbiage in the text; and, this says the theme of “freedom from slavery” is now turning towards a focus that is relative to the Spirit of Yahweh (the cleanser of a Christ) and what acts those possessed by the Spirit will find themselves doing.
In verse sixteen, Paul began with a capitalized “Legō,” which normally translates as the first-person, “I say.” Because the word is capitalized, it takes on a divinely elevated meaning, where Jesus told his disciples, “I speak for the Father, because the Father is in me.” The same source of “speaking” must be seen here, where Jesus speaks for the Father through his Father’s wife-souls. This means Paul (as Jesus reborn) is the “I,” and his epistles are the words that he “spoke.” Therefore, “I speak” is divinely elevated in meaning when one realizes the “I” is as the Son. Because Paul followed “I speak” with the conjunction “now” (“de”), this says Paul (as Saul) did not always speak divinely. He thought his words as Saul were important and powerful; but he learned he was nothing of any merit, as Saul.
Following a comma mark of separation, Paul then wrote a capitalized “Pneumati,” which is of course divinely elevated as the “Spirit” of Yahweh. In the Dative case, Paul referred “to Spirit you conduct your lives” (from “peripateite”). [Notice how Paul wrote nothing that described "the Spirit" in any way, such as "holy" or "saintly".] This says Paul knew the true Christians of Galatia also knew “I speak now, to Spirit (who) conducts (my) life.” This says what Paul next wrote would be understood as a direction towards Yahweh’s “Spirit,” when he next wrote, “kai longing of flesh not lest you should complete .”
In that, Paul admitted that having a body of flesh in the material world meant it would naturally be inclined to “desire” worldly things. Those come across the brain as impulses to act. While that is a natural way of being for humans, the importance stated here says that natural state of being is "not lest you should complete." To "not lest" act on natural desires and impulses means one must be supernaturally controlled. Thus, to “complete” those impulses by acting on impulse is “not lest” carried out, because of the “Spirit.” It controls the flesh.
In verse seventeen, Paul explained that the “desires” of the “flesh” are “contrary” to the “Spirit.” Paul added then how the “Spirit” is “contrary to the flesh;” so, the two are opposites and not aligned in purpose. Following a semi-colon, beginning a new, but relative statement, Paul returned to the “one another” of verses thirteen and fifteen, writing, “these indeed to one another it is opposed.” This says the ‘flesh” seeks to satisfy the material part of human duality, while the “Spirit” is only interested in the soul’s salvation; and, salvation means resisting the lures of the world. Only the “Spirit” can make that resistance possible. Paul said the “Spirit” makes it so you do “not wish desires of the flesh be done.”
In verse eighteen, Paul then added another “if” scenario, which says, “if now to Spirit you are led , not you exist under law .” Because the Greek word “nomon” is not capitalized, this does not refer to Mosaic Law. The lower-case spelling makes this more in line with “customs” or “local laws” and “rules.” Gentiles “exist under such laws,” but true Christians “exist under” the “Spirit,” which is the same as Yahweh writing the Law on the walls of one’s heart (where “heart” means “inner man” or soul). Thus, “being led by the Spirit” is how one maintains the marriage vows of the Covenant.
In verses nineteen through twenty-one, Paul wrote a list of acts that are motivated by “desires of the flesh.” He began verse nineteen with the capitalized “Phanera,” which is a divinely elevated word that translates as “Manifest.” The word also means “visible,” while implying in usage: “apparent, clear, and clearly.” The divine elevation says the “Manifestation” of the things then listed can be the sins of the ”flesh” that forbit a soul from salvation. The list is: “sexual immorality; uncleanliness; wantonness; [20] idolatry; enchantment; hostility; contention; jealousy; outbursts of passion [anger]; ambitions; divisions; separating opinions; [21] grudges [envies]; drunkenness; festive reveling; kai anything else that falls into these categories. [I paraphrase the last part.] Still, any of these sins of the “flesh” means the “kingdom of God not it will inherit.” So, this list says only the “Spirit” can keep these natural desires and urges from taking control over one’s soul.
Where the NRSV places it header that says, “The Fruit of the Spirit,” verses twenty-two and twenty-three state what comes to a soul in its flesh when the “Spirit” is in control. These are: “love; joy; peace; patience; kindness; goodness; faithfulness; [23] gentleness; and, self-control.” Paul then said there are no laws made by man that make these “fruits of the Spirit” illegal.
Everything listed by Paul has much deeper meaning that can be applied to understanding what each means. For example, I have written recently about “peace” being better stated as “wholeness.” I advise all serious disciples of Christianity to delve into each root Greek word and do your own investigative work. It will be quite rewarding.
In verse twenty-four is the only time the name “Jesus” is written in these selected verses. In that, Paul wrote: “These now of this of Christ of Jesus , this flesh it had destroyed [crucified] together with to these to emotions kai to these to desires .” This says the last listed (the divinely elevated “These” being the fruit of the Spirit) were due to divine possessions. From the Spirit one is possessed “of Christ” and that brings about one’s soul being possessed “of Jesus. Those prior mentions – “this of flesh” – are the sinful worldly “emotions” that led the Temple elite to “destroy” any possibility their souls had for becoming “of Christ” and reborn “of Jesus.” It was their “desires” of selfishness [add that to the list of sins] that “destroyed” their chances of eternal salvation.
In verse twenty-five, Paul wrote: “If we live to Spirit , to Spirit kai our souls should walk .” In this, the conditional begun leads to an expected result. The meaning of “walk” is taking the path of righteousness. A soul alone in a body of flesh cannot “walk” this path, as it will become distracted and led astray.
As the Epistle reading for the third Sunday after Pentecost, it should be clear that the road of ministry one should have just begun can only be lasting when one has been made free from worldly influences. That demands becoming a “Christ,” which means divine marriage between one’s soul and Yahweh. His poured out Baptism is His “Spirit.” That paves the way for one to be a soul where the soul of Jesus can resurrect. To “love” spiritually means to be Jesus reborn. One must “love” that “near” “neighbor as one’s own soul.” Only when one is filled with the “love” of Yahweh (His Son) can anyone else in the world become a neighbor, as a “brother in Christ” (males and females the same). One in ministry should promote all humanity is feminine, thus all are expected to become the wives of Yahweh and the mothers of Jesus reborn.
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