Gal 5:24, 2Ti 2:22, Tit 2:12, 1Pe 1:14 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 24. And they that are Christ's . All who are true Christians. Have crucified the flesh . The corrupt passions of the soul have been put to death; that is, destroyed. They are as though they were dead, and have no power over us. . With the affections . Marg., passions . All corrupt desires. And lusts . . (1) "affections" "passions" (*) "lusts" "passions and desires"

Galatians 5:24

Verse 24. And they that are Christ's. All who are true Christians.

Have crucified the flesh. The corrupt passions of the soul have been put to death; that is, destroyed. They are as though they were dead, and have no power over us. Gal 2:20.

With the affections. Marg., passions. All corrupt desires.

And lusts. Rom 1:24.

(1) "affections" "passions" (*) "lusts" "passions and desires"

2 Timothy 2:22

Verse 22. Flee also youthful lusts. Such passions as youth are o. On subject to. the word flee, and the pertinency of its use in such a connection, 1Cor 6:18. Paul felt that Timothy, then a young man, was subject to the same passions as other young men; and hence his repeated cautions to him to avoid all those things arising from his youth, which might be the occasion of scandal. Comp. 1Timm 4:12 . 1Timm 5.2. It is to be remembered that this epistle is applicable to other ministers, as well as to Timothy; and, to a young man in the ministry no counsel could be more appropriate than to "Flee from youthful lusts;" not to indulge for a moment in those corrupt passions to which youth are subject, but to cultivate the pure and sober virtues which become the ministerial office.

But follow righteousness, etc. Comp. Heb 12:14. The general meaning here is, that he was to practise all that is good and virtuous. He was to practise righteousness, or justice and equity, in all his dealings with men; faith, or fidelity in his duties; charity, or love to all men, 1Cor 13:1, seq. peace, or harmony and concord with all others. What virtues could be more appropriate for a minister of the gospel?

With them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. That is, with all Christians, who are often characterized as those who call on the Lord, 1Cor 1:2. Comp. Acts 9:11. In all his intercourse with them, Timothy was to manifest the virtues above recommended. But not with them alone. It would be incumbent on him to exhibit the same virtues in his intercourse with all.

(d) "Flee" Eccl 11:9,10 (e) "follow" Heb 12:14 (f) "call on the Lord" 1Cor 1:2

Titus 2:12

Verse 12. Teaching us. That is the "grace of God" so teaches us; or that system of religion which is a manifestation of the grace of God, inculcates the great and important duties which Paul proceeds to state.

That denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. "That by denying ourselves of these, or refusing to practise them, we should lead a holy life." The word ungodliness, here means all that would be included under the word impiety; that is, all failure in the performance of our proper duties towards God. Rom 1:18. The phrase "worldly lusts," refers to all improper desires pertaining to this life--the desire of wealth, pleasure, honour, sensual indulgence. It refers to such passions as the men of this world are prone to, and would include all those things which cannot be indulged in with a proper reference to the world to come. The gross passions would be of course included, and all those more re- fined pleasures also which constitute the characteristic and peculiar enjoyments of those who do not live unto God.

We should live soberly. See the word soberly (σωφρονως) explained Tit 2:2, Tit 2:4. It means that we should exercise a due restraint on our passions and propensities.

Righteously. Justly. This refers to the proper performance of our duties to our fellowmen; and it means that religion teaches us to perform those duties with fidelity, according to all our relations in life; to all our promises and contracts; to our fellow-citizens and neighbours; to the poor, and needy, and ignorant, and oppressed; and to all those who are providentially placed in our way who need our kind offices.

Justice to them would lead us to act as we would wish that they would towards us.

And godly. Piously; that is, in the faithful performance of our duties to God. We have here, then, an epitome of all that religion requires:

(1.) Our duty to ourselves--included in the word "soberly," and requiring a suitable control over our evil propensities and passions;

(2.) our duty to our fellow-men in all the relations we sustain in life; and

(3.) our duty to God--evinced in what will be properly regarded as a pious life. He that does these things, meets all the responsibilities of his condition and relations; and the Christian system, requiring the faithful performance of these duties, shows how admirably it is adapted to man.

In this present world. That is, as long as we shall continue in it. These are the duties which we owe in the present life.

1 Peter 1:14

Verse 14. As obedient children. That is, conduct yourselves as becomes the children of God, by obeying his commands; by submitting to his will; and by manifesting unwavering confidence in him as your Father, at all times.

Not fashioning yourselves. Not forming or modelling your life. Comp. Rom 12:2. The idea is, that they were to have some model or example, in accordance with which they were to frame their lives, but that they were not to make their own former principles and conduct the model. The Christian is to be as different from what he was himself before conversion as he is from his fellow-men. He is to be governed by new laws, to aim at new objects, and to mould his life in accordance with new principles. Before conversion, he was

(a.) supremely selfish;

(b.) he lived for personal gratification;

(c.) he gave free indulgence to his appetites and passions, restrained only by a respect for the decencies of life, and by a reference to his own health, property, or reputation, without regard to the will of God;

(d.) he conformed himself to the customs and opinions around him, rather than to the requirements of his Maker;

(e.) he lived for worldly aggrandizements, his supreme object being wealth or fame; or

(f.) in many cases, those who are now Christians, gave indulgence to every passion which they wished to gratify, regardless of reputation, health, property, or salvation. Now they are to be governed by a different rule, and their own former standard of morals and of opinions is no longer their guide, but the will of God.

According to the former lusts in your ignorance. When you were ignorant of the requirements of the gospel, and gave yourselves up to the unrestrained indulgence of your passions.

(d) "fashioning" Rom 12:2 (+) "lusts" "desires"