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Selected Verse: Galatians 5:5 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ga 5:5 |
King James |
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
For--proof of the assertion, "fallen from grace," by contrasting with the case of legalists, the "hope" of Christians.
through the Spirit--Greek, rather, "by the Spirit": in opposition to by the flesh (Gal 4:29), or fleshly ways of justification, as circumcision and legal ordinances. "We" is emphatical, and contrasted with "whosoever of you would be justified by the law" (Gal 5:4).
the hope of righteousness--"We wait for the (realization of the) hope (which is the fruit) of the righteousness (that is, justification which comes) by (literally, 'from--out of') faith," Rom 5:1, Rom 5:4-5; Rom 8:24-25, "Hope . . . we with patience wait for it." This is a farther step than being "justified"; not only are we this, but "wait for the hope" which is connected with it, and is its full consummation. "Righteousness," in the sense of justification, is by the believer once for all already attained: but the consummation of it in future perfection above is the object of hope to be waited for: "the crown of righteousness laid up" (Ti2 4:8): "the hope laid up for you in heaven" (Col 1:5; Pe1 1:3). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For we - We who are Christians. It is a characteristic of the true Christian.
Through the Spirit - The Holy Spirit. We expect salvation only by his aid.
Wait for - That is, we expect salvation in this way. The main idea is, not that of waiting as if the thing were delayed; it is that of expecting. The sense is, that true Christians have no other hope of salvation than by faith in the Lord Jesus. It is not by their own works, nor is it by any conformity to the Law. The object of Paul is, to show them the true nature of the Christian hope of eternal life, and to recall them from dependence on their conformity to the Law.
The hope of righteousness - The hope of justification. They had no other hope of justification than by faith in the Redeemer; see the note at Rom 1:17. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
righteousness
(See Scofield) - (Rom 10:10). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
For we (ἡμεῖς γὰρ)
Γὰρ for introduces a proof of the preceding statement, by declaring the contrary attitude of those who continue under the economy of grace. Ye who seek to be justified by the law are fallen from grace; for we, not relying on the law, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.
Through the Spirit (πνεύματι)
The Holy Spirit who inspires our faith. Not as Lightfoot, spiritually. The words πνεύματι ἐκ πίστεως are not to be taken as one conception, the Spirit which is of faith, but present two distinct and coordinate facts which characterize the waiting for the hope of righteousness; namely, the agency of the Holy Spirit, in contrast with the flesh (comp. Rom 7:6; Rom 8:4, Rom 8:15, Rom 8:16; Eph 1:13; Eph 2:22), and faith in contrast with the works of the law (comp. Gal 3:3, and see Gal 2:16; Gal 3:3; Rom 1:17; Rom 3:22; Rom 9:30; Rom 10:6).
By faith (ἐκ πίστεως)
Const. with wait, not with righteousness.
Wait for (ἀπεκδεχόμεθα)
Quite often in Paul, and only twice elsewhere, Heb 9:28; Pe1 3:20. See on Phi 3:20.
The hope of righteousness (ἐπίδα δικαιοσύνης)
Hope for the object of hope, as Rom 8:24; Col 1:5; Heb 6:18; Tit 2:13. The phrase means that good which righteousness causes us to hope for. Comp. hope of the calling (Eph 1:18; Eph 4:4): hope of the gospel (Col 1:23). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| For we - Who believe in Christ, Who are under the gospel dispensation. Through the Spirit - Without any of those carnal ordinances. Wait for - in sure confidence of attaining. The hope of righteousness - The righteousness we hope for, and full reward of it. This righteousness we receive of God through faith; and by faith we shall obtain the reward. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
For we, Christians, through the Spirit - Through the operation of the Holy Ghost, under this spiritual dispensation of the Gospel, wait for the hope of righteousness - expect that which is the object of our hope, on our being justified by faith in Christ. Righteousness, δικαιοσυνη, may here, as in many other places of St. Paul's epistles, mean justification, and the hope of justification, or the hope excited and inspired by it, is the possession of eternal glory; for, says the apostle, Rom 5:1, Rom 5:2, Being justified by faith, we have peace with God - and rejoice in Hope of the Glory of God. But, as this glory is necessarily future, it is to be waited for; but this waiting, in a thorough Christian, is not only a blessed expectation, but also a continual anticipation of it; and therefore the apostle says, απεκδεχομεθα, we receive out if it, from απο, from εκ, out of, and δεχομαι, I receive. This is no fanciful derivation; it exists in the experience of every genuine Christian; he is continually anticipating or receiving foretastes of that glory, the fullness of which he expects after death. Thus they are receiving the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls. Pe1 1:9.
That they could not have the Holy Spirit without faith, was a doctrine also of the Jews; hence it is said, Mechilta, fol. 52: "That faith was of great consequence with which the Israelites believed in Him who, with one word, created the universe; and because the Israelites believed in God, the Holy Spirit dwelt in them; so that, being filled with God, they sang praises to him." Cicero, De Nat. Deor., lib. ii., has said: Nemo vir magnus sine aliquo afflatu divino unquam fuit: "There never was a great man who had not some measure of the Divine influence." However true this may be with respect to the great men of the Roman orator, we may safely assert there never was a true Christian who had not the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit. |
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: