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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary

Galatians 5:26

Let us not be desirous of vain-glory: ambition or vain-glory is a natural corruption, disposing us to boast and commend ourselves, and to seek the honour and applause of men. Provoking one another; this is an effect of the former, disposing us, out of hope of victory, to challenge others to a contest with us. Or it may be understood of provoking others by injuries and wrongs done them; which is contrary to the duty of love. Envying one another; not repining at the good of others; either desiring their portion, or being troubled that they fare so well. Possibly this verse might more properly have been made the first of the next chapter, (as Luther maketh it), where the apostle goeth on, pressing further spiritual duties common to all Christians.

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See also Galatians 5:26 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Galatians 5:26. _LET US NOT BE DESIROUS OF VAIN GLORY_] κενοδοξοι. _Let us not be vain glorious_-boasting of our attainments; vaunting ourselves to be superior to others; or seeking honour from...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    LET US NOT BE DESIROUS OF VAINGLORY - The word used here (κενόδοξοι kenodoxoi) means “proud” or “vain” of empty advantages, as of birth, property, eloquence, or learning. The reference here is probab...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. THE WALK OF THE JUSTIFIED BELIEVER, AS NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE CHAPTER 5 _ 1. Stand fast! Be not entangled! (Galatians 5:1)_ 2. Exhortations and the law of love. (Galatians 5:7) 3....

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GALATIANS 5:13 TO GALATIANS 6:10. Practical appendix to the epistle; in the form of guarding the doctrine of free grace against antinomian abuse....

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    AN OLD STORY AND A NEW MEANING (Galatians 4:21-31 ; Galatians 5:1) 5:1 Tell me this--you who want to be subject to the law, you listen to it being read to you, don't you? Well, then, it stands writte...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness, self-control. There is no law which condemns thing; like that. Those who belong to Jesus Christ hav...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    DESIROUS OF VAIN GLORY. Greek. _kenodoxos_. Only here. Compare Philippians 2:3. PROVOKING. Greek. _prokaleomai_. Only here. ENVYING. Greek. _phthoneo_. Only here....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    To soften the rebuke, St Paul uses the 1st pers. plur., including himself with those by whom the warning is needed. A walk directed by the Spirit of God will not lead to the display of strife and vain...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἈΛΛΉΛΟΙΣ אACD. ἀλλήλους is read by W.H. margin with BG*. 26. ΜῊ ΓΙΝΏΜΕΘΑ, in contrast to the preceding suggestion of harmony. Observe the humility and tact whereby St Paul writes as though he himself...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    25–6:6. _Life by the spirit brings unselfish care for others, e.g. for one’s teachers_ (Galatians 5:25) Life by the spirit leads to a life in right relation to others. (Galatians 5:26) We must all bew...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    13–6:10. PRACTICAL. LIBERTY IS NOT LICENSE BUT SERVICE; NOT THE FLESH BUT THE SPIRIT MUST BE THE AIM OF THE BELIEVER...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΓΙΝΏΜΕΘΑ _praes. conj. med. (dep.) от_ ΓΊΝΟΜΑΙ (G1096) становиться; побудительный _conj._ используется с отр. ΚΕΝΌΔΟΞΟΣ (G2755) пустое прославление, тщетная слава, тщеславие. Речь идет о человеке, ко...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    ENVYING ONE ANOTHER.— Whether the _vain-glory_ and _envying_ here were about their _spiritual gifts,_ (a fault whereof the _Corinthians_ were guilty, as we may see at large 1 Corinthians 12:13, 1 Cori...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT 5:24-26 (24) And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. (25) If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. (26) Let us not be...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    _VERSE 26. LET US NOT BE DESIROUS OF VAIN GLORY._ To desire vainglory is to desire lies, because when one person praises another he tells lies. What is there in anybody to praise? But it is different...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 'Let us not BECOME' [ ginometha (G1096)]. While not asserting that the Galatians are "vain-glorious" now, he says t...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 This paragraph is the summary and conclusion of the doctrinal argument. Tersely, he puts the case. Which shall it be _ Christ _ or _ circumcision_!' No half hearted allegiance here, no serving of tw...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 1-12. The futility of seeking justification by attempting to comply with the demands of the Mosaic Law; the inconsistency of works and faith as methods of salvation. P...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    VAINGLORY] indulging in rivalry and jealousy. PROVOKING] to strifes of opinion. ENVYING] cherishing grudges....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE GALATIANS _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 5 CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE V1 We have freedom because Christ has made us free. Be certain that you remain free. You must not allow yourselv...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    This verse may refer back to the problems in verse 15. But it is important for every Christian and every *church. The answer is to let the Holy Spirit control us. CIRCUMCISE ~ to cut off the loose sk...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    LET US NOT BE. — Strictly, _Let us not become._ When he left the Galatian Church St. Paul was satisfied with their condition, but he fears that they will change. The warning that he addresses to them...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (16-26) To follow the guidance of the Spirit is to obtain a double release: on the one hand, from the evil appetites and passions of the flesh or of sense — which is the direct antithesis to the Spiri...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 23 CHRIST'S SPIRIT AND HUMAN FLESH. Galatians 5:16 LOVE is the guard of Christian freedom. The Holy Spirit is its guide. These principles accomplish what the law could never do. It withheld...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The English version _provoking_ introduces an idea of wanton provocation which does not belong to the Latin _provocantes_, nor to the Greek προκαλούμενοι, for this denotes challenges to combat, and so...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    to Galatians 6:6. RULES OF CONDUCT DICTATED BY THE SPIRIT OF MUTUAL LOVE....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    PRODUCE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:13 That Christ has freed us from the Law as a means of salvation does not free us from moral restraint, but brings us under the constraint of a higher law,...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The whole law of liberty is stated in the sentences, "For freedom did Christ set us free," "stand fast therefore," and "be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage." He then refers first to circumcis...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (18) Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (18) He adds special exhortations according as he knew the Galatians to be subject to different vices: and first...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    REFLECTIONS SWEET are the properties of a justified state in Christ. Lord! I would say, give me grace to stand fast in it. There is nothing changeable in my Lord. His Person, his love, his righteousne...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, he...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Galatians 1:1-24. We saw the second of Corinthians characterized by the most rapid transitions of feeling, by a deep and fervent sense of God's consolations, by a revulsion so much the more powerful i...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    26._Let us not be desirous of vain-glory_, The special exhortations which were addressed to the Galatians were not more necessary for them than they are adapted to our own time. Of many evils existing...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    It is in this liberty, the liberty of Christ, alluding to the free woman and Jerusalem above, that they were to stand fast, and not put themselves again under the yoke of the law. If they took that gr...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    LET US NOT BE DESIROUS OF VAIN GLORY,.... Ambitious of being thought wiser, and richer, and more valuable than others; of having the preeminence in the management of all affairs, and of having honour,...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Ver. 26. _Let us not be desirous of vain glory_] _Ingens dulcedo gloriae_ (saith Aeneas Sylvius) _facilius contemnend...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _If we live in_, or by, _the Spirit_ If we are indeed raised from the death of sin, and made alive to God by the operation of his Spirit, and if this spiritual life is continued to us by his indwellin...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    VAINGLORY; empty applause, which puffs up with pride. PROVOKING ONE ANOTHER; by claims of superiority, or haughty, imperious behavior. ENVYING ONE ANOTHER; for any real or supposed excellence or dis...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    LET US NOT BE DESIROUS OF VAINGLORY, PROVOKING ONE ANOTHER, ENVYING ONE ANOTHER. In contrast to the sins and vices which the apostle has enumerated above, he here offers a brief, but comprehensive lis...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The fruits of the Spirit:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    LIBERTY TO BE PRACTICED (vs.1-6) Chapter 4 dealt with the perfect freedom introduced by God Himself through Christ, freedom given to all who have been redeemed by His precious blood, freedom from the...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    LET US NOT BECOME CONCEITED, PROVOKING ONE ANOTHER, ENVYING ONE ANOTHER. If you are living in the Spirit, you will not: 1 - Seek "vain glory" 2 - Provoke each other, stir up, prod, poke 3 - Envy -...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    16-26 If it be our care to act under the guidance and power of the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and oppositions of the corrupt nature which remains in us, it shall no...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another....

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book I "Let us not be desirous of vainglory," says the apostle, "provoking one another, envying one another."[96] Tertullian Of Patience There is, too, another chief s...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Galatians 5:26 Let G1096 not G3361 become G1096 (G5741) conceited G2755 provoking G4292 (G5734) another G240 envy

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another.' In contrast there are things, which are ever a danger, and are in direct opposition to the Spirit, regardless of how...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    FREEDOM IS NOT TO BE MISINTERPRETED AS LICENCE. THEY MUST WALK IN LOVE AND BY THE SPIRIT (GALATIANS 5:13). Paul now goes on to deal with the charge that the Gospel he is presenting gives men licence t...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Galatians 5:26. LET US NOT BECOME VAINGLORIOUS, etc. This is the opposite of humility (Philippians 2:3). ‘St. Paul works round again to the subject of Galatians 5:15, and repeats his warning. It is cl...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    LET US NOT BE (μη γινωμεθα). Present middle subjunctive (volitive), "Let us cease becoming vainglorious" (κενοδοξο), late word only here in N.T. (κενοσ, δοξα). Once in Epictetus in same sense.PROVO...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 5:1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ had made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Chris...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 5:13. _For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another._ Do not turn your liberty into license. The apostle...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Liberty of the believer in Christ, apart from the law. Conflict of flesh and the Spirit. Christian character the result of the Spirit's work not self-effort. CHARACTERS: Christ, Holy Spirit...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Galatians 5:1. _Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,_ by the redemption he has procured through the shedding of his own most precious blood. The liberty of your cele...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    WE MUST NOT BE. These things destroy Christian community and fellowship!...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Let us not be desirous of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another._ I. Disunion may exist in a Christian community. II. Entire sympathy with Christ will heighten man’s appreciation of...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 5:26 Paul probably refers to attitudes that are causing problems in the Galatian churches (see v. Galatians 5:15). These also describe all who live according to the flesh ...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 5:16 Life under the law expresses itself in the works of the flesh, but those who live by the Spirit bear fruit pleasing to God. ⇐...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 5 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. S. Paul proceeds to urge the Galatians not to submit to the yoke of the Old Law, lest they be deprived of the fruits of Christ's righteousness, since in Him neit...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _Let us not be desirous of vain-glory._ Whoever seeks the praises of men seeks a vain thing. He pursues a bubble, swollen by wind, but void of all substance. The only true and lasting glory which alon...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Galatians 5:22. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.—The singular _fruit_, as compared with the plural _works_, suggests that the effect of the Spirit’s inworking is one harmoniou...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GALATIANS 5:1 GALATIANS 5:2 BEHOLD, I PAUL SAY UNTO YOU (ἴδε, ἐγὼ Παῦλος λώγω ὑμῖν); _lo_,_ I Paul say unto you. _The adverbial exclamation ἴδε, found in St. Paul's writings on...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn now to Galatians chapter five. The whole concept is: how do I establish a righteous standing before God? Can I be righteous by keeping the law? Or am I righteous by my simple faith in Je...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 3:7; 1 Peter 5:5; Galatians 5:15; James 3:14; James 4:16

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Desirous of vainglory [κ ε ν ο δ ο ξ ο ι]. N. T. o. Better, vainglorious. The noun kenodoxia vainglory only Philippians 2:3. In LXX see Wisd. 14 14; 4 Macc. 2 15; 8 18. Originally, vain opinion, error...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE GRACES OF THE SPIRIT'S INDWELLING Galatians 5:14 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. The works of the flesh are manifest. It is not necessary for anyone to draw upon his imagination to describe the works of...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Be not desirous of vain glory — Of the praise or esteem of men. They who do not carefully and closely follow the Spirit, easily slide into this: the natural effects of which are, provoking to envy the...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Our apostle closes this excellent chapter with an exhortation to the Galatians to avoid all pride and ambition, all vain-glorious boastings and ostentation, not provoking one another by their contenti...

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