Gal 5:22 | TNotes | STEP | 5:22 Unlike following the sinful nature (5:19-21 ), letting the Holy Spirit guide (5:16 ) produces a life pleasing to God, which human effort and the law cannot do (cp. John 15:1-8 ). • These virtues directly address the issues in the church of Galatia. • love: The greatest Christian virtue encompasses all the others (1 Cor 13:4-7 ). Only the Spirit of God can produce in us love for those who hate us (Matt 5:43-48 ; Luke 6:35-36 ). • Joy produced by the Spirit does not depend on circumstances (Rom 15:13 ; 2 Cor 6:10 ; 8:2 ; 1 Thes 1:6 ). • Peace with God creates internal well-being (Rom 5:1 ; Eph 2:15 ; Phil 4:6-7 ; Col 1:20 ) that spills into our relationships with others so that we become peacemakers (Matt 5:9 ; Rom 8:6 ; 12:18 ; 14:17-19 ; 2 Cor 13:11 ; Eph 4:3 ; 6:15 ). • Patience (or tolerance, or long-suffering ) gives us forbearance toward other people and endurance under unfavorable circumstances (Eph 4:2 ; 2 Tim 4:2 ; Jas 5:10-11 ). God is patient with us (Exod 34:6 ; Ps 103:8 ; Rom 2:4 ; 9:22 ; 1 Tim 1:16 ; 2 Pet 3:15 ) and promises his presence with those who are patient with others (Isa 57:15 ). • Kindness connotes generosity, a giving spirit that reflects how God treats us (Rom 2:4 ; 11:22 ; Titus 3:4-6 ). • goodness: Cp. Rom 15:14 ; Eph 5:9 ; 2 Thes 1:11 . • Faithfulness (or faith ) means exercising good faith and fidelity in our relationships, just as God does with us (1 Cor 1:9 ; 10:13 ; 2 Thes 3:3 ).

5:22 ^a Unlike following the sinful nature (5:19-21 ^b), letting the Holy Spirit guide (5:16 ^c) produces a life pleasing to God, which human effort and the law cannot do (cp. John 15:1-8 ^d).

• These virtues directly address the issues in the church of Galatia.

• love: The greatest Christian virtue encompasses all the others (1 Cor 13:4-7 ^e). Only the Spirit of God can produce in us love for those who hate us (Matt 5:43-48 ^f; Luke 6:35-36 ^g).

• Joy produced by the Spirit does not depend on circumstances (Rom 15:13 ^h; 2 Cor 6:10 ⁱ; 8:2 ^j; 1 Thes 1:6 ^k).

• Peace with God creates internal well-being (Rom 5:1 ^l; Eph 2:15 ^m; Phil 4:6-7 ⁿ; Col 1:20 ^o) that spills into our relationships with others so that we become peacemakers (Matt 5:9 ^p; Rom 8:6 ^q; 12:18 ^r; 14:17-19 ^s; 2 Cor 13:11 ^t; Eph 4:3 ^u; 6:15 ^v).

• Patience (or tolerance, or long-suffering) gives us forbearance toward other people and endurance under unfavorable circumstances (Eph 4:2 ^w; 2 Tim 4:2 ^x; Jas 5:10-11 ^y). God is patient with us (Exod 34:6 ^z; Ps 103:8 ^aa; Rom 2:4 ^ab; 9:22 ^ac; 1 Tim 1:16 ^ad; 2 Pet 3:15 ^ae) and promises his presence with those who are patient with others (Isa 57:15 ^af).

• Kindness connotes generosity, a giving spirit that reflects how God treats us (Rom 2:4 ^ag; 11:22 ^ah; Titus 3:4-6 ^ai).

• goodness: Cp. Rom 15:14 ^aj; Eph 5:9 ^ak; 2 Thes 1:11 ^al.

• Faithfulness (or faith) means exercising good faith and fidelity in our relationships, just as God does with us (1 Cor 1:9 ^am; 10:13 ^an; 2 Thes 3:3 ^ao).