Galatians 5:16–18
Walking by the Spirit, and the inner struggle with the desire of the flesh
Study it word by word16But I say: walk by the Spirit, and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are opposed to one another, so that you do not do whatever you want.
18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
In its context
14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
15But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
…
19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery,
20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of rage, rivalries, divisions, factions,
Its words in the original
- ΛέγωLegō· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- πνεύματιpneumati· spirit, Spirit
Spirit; also wind and breath. With "holy", the Holy Spirit of God.
- περιπατεῖτεperipateite· walk
Walk; also live in a certain way.
- ἐπιθυμίανepithymian· desire
Desire; also evil desire, craving.
- σαρκὸςsarkos· flesh
Flesh: the body, and weak human nature; "flesh and blood", a human being with only human strength.
- τελέσητεtelesēte· finish, complete
Finish, complete, fulfill.
- ἐπιθυμεῖepithymei· desire, covet
Desire strongly, long for; also covet, lust after.
- ἀλλήλοιςallēlois· one another
One another, each other.
- ἀντίκειταιantikeitai· oppose
Oppose, be against; as a noun, opponent, adversary.
- θέλητεthelēte· want, wish
Want, wish, be willing.
- ποιῆτεpoiēte· do, make
Do, make, produce.
- ἄγεσθεagesthe· lead, bring
Lead, bring, take along.
- ἐστὲeste· be
Be, exist.
- νόμονnomon· law
Law. In the Gospels, above all the law of Moses, the Torah.