Gal 5:22-24 | 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).
5:23 ^ap Gentleness is antithetical to the vices of 5:20 ^aq and requires strength (see Prov 15:1 ^ar, 4 ^as; Matt 11:28-29 ^at; Eph 4:2 ^au).

• self-control: The Holy Spirit does not give moral license but empowers people to avoid sin (cp. Gal 5:13 ^av; Rom 6:14-18 ^aw; 1 Thes 4:3-7 ^ax; 1 Pet 2:16 ^ay; see also Acts 24:25 ^az; Titus 1:8 ^ba).

• There is no law against these things! Paul is stating the obvious, but also making the point that those who are virtuous by the Spirit do not need law to govern them.
5:24 ^bb Those who have faith in Christ are crucified with him (cp. 2:19-20 ^bc; Rom 6 ^bd) and become new people (Rom 6:1-2 ^be; 2 Cor 5:17 ^bf; Col 3:5-15 ^bg): They have died to their sinful nature and to the law (Gal 2:19 ^bh; Rom 7:4-6 ^bi; 2 Cor 5:14 ^bj; Col 3:1-4 ^bk).

• passions and desires: As in 5:19-21 ^bl.