Galatians 5:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, let us live by the Spirit, and by the Spirit we must also walk, living according to His laws. This is precisely what "we must walk" means: let us be satisfied with the power of the Spirit and not seek a supplement in the law. Then, wishing to show that those who introduce circumcision do this from vainglory, he says: "Let us not become vainglorious," for this is the cause of all evils, "provoking one another, envying one another" (v. 26). For envy is born from vainglory, and from envy come all those countless forms of evil.

If, he says, such is the power of the Spirit, then by it let us live and be satisfied. For the expression "we must also walk by the Spirit" is used instead of: let us be satisfied with the power of the Spirit, and let us not seek help from the law.

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Let us use this testimony against those who do not wish to understand Scripture spiritually.

Who lives by the Spirit, if not our hidden man, who at times also lives according to the flesh? But when he lives according to the Spirit, he walks according to the Spirit.

When he wishes to walk according to the flesh, he is a living dead man. A man perfect in Christ always lives according to the Spirit. He obeys the Spirit and never lives in the flesh.

Conversely, whoever has wholly surrendered himself to the flesh and the passions never lives by the Spirit.

Paul speaks this way because, if we live decently and honorably, our conduct also will be good. To live by the Spirit means to have a life without vice. We walk in the Spirit when we strive for peace, and peace gives birth to love. Glory is vain when people want victory where there is no reward, and when they strive for rivalry and contention, knowing that these give birth to disagreements and quarrels.

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit," living not according to the law, but following grace.

St. Symeon the New Theologian, for example, says that the person who "walks in the Spirit" is one who is prudent, patient, meek, and who prays and contemplates God. "Continually occupied with inward work, he becomes wise, magnanimous, generous, and humble-minded. More than this, he contemplates, theologizes, and prays. This is what it means, as the Apostle says, that he walks in the Spirit."

"If we live by the Spirit, then we must also walk by the Spirit." The Apostle's thought is that, if freedom from the law places us in a high and honorable state, then we must remain at that height. Freedom from the law is by no means lawlessness. On the contrary, granting the right to live by one's spirit alone firmly obliges the spiritual person, that is, the New Testament person and not one under the law, to do only spiritual works and to lead a pure and holy life.

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." This is the conclusion from everything that came before. The Apostle is, as it were, saying: if we live by the Spirit, that is, if we have left elementary pleasing of the flesh and cast off the yoke of the law, then we must also walk by the Spirit. This means conforming our manner of thought, feeling, disposition, speech, deeds, and conduct to His demands.

This is the conclusion from all that precedes. The Apostle speaks as though saying: therefore, if we live by the spirit, that is, if we have left elemental God-pleasing, cast off the yoke of the law, and received freedom from it, in order to please God by moral dispositions that proceed from the spirit, then we must also walk by the spirit.

That means we must conform to its demands our way of thinking, feeling, disposition, words, deeds, and entire conduct.

“Let us walk,” στοιχωμεν, means: let us conform ourselves, let us agree with it. He has already depicted the demands of the spirit under the form of its fruits.