SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:23
mansedumbre, templanza; contra tales cosas no hay ley.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:23
Verse 23. Meekness] praothv? Mildness, indulgence toward the weak and erring, patient suffering of injuries without feeling a spirit of revenge, an even balance of all tempers and passions, the entire opposite to anger. Temperance] egkrateia? Continence, self-government, or moderation, principally with regard to sensual or animal appetites. Moderation in eating, drinking, sleeping, &c.
Several very respectable MSS., as D*EFG, with the Vulgate, most copies of the Itala and several of the fathers, add agneia, chastity. This we are sure cannot be separated from the genuine Christian character, though it may be included in the word egkrateia, continence or moderation, immediately preceding.
Against such there is no law.] Those, whose lives are adorned by the above virtues, cannot be condemned by any law, for the whole purpose and design of the moral law of God is fulfilled in those who have the Spirit of God, producing in their hearts and lives the preceding fruits.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. Meekness , etc..] Humility and lowliness of mind, of which Christ is an eminent example and pattern; and which the Holy Spirit from him transcribes into the heart of a regenerate person; and lies in having mean thoughts of himself, in walking humbly with God, acknowledging every favour, being thankful for every blessing, and depending on his grace, and in behaving with modesty and humility among men. The last of the fruits of the Spirit mentioned is temperance , or continence; and designs both chastity and sobriety, and particularly moderation in eating and drinking. It may be observed, that these fruits of the Spirit are opposed to the works of the flesh. So love is opposed to hatred; joy to emulations and envying; peace to variance, strife, and seditions; longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, and meekness, to wrath and murders; faith to idolatry, witchcraft, and heresies; and temperance to adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, drunkenness, and revellings. Against such there is no law ; meaning, against such fruits, graces, and good things; these being perfectly agreeable to the law of God, which is holy, just, and good, and spiritual; and are so far from being forbidden by it, that they are highly esteemed and approved of by it: or against persons that are possessed of such fruits; for these appear to be in the spirit, and to be led by the Spirit; and therefore are not under the law, and have nothing to fear from it, as a terrifying, accusing, cursing, and condemning law. The works of the flesh, and they that are of the flesh, are such that come under the notice and lash of the law; and not the fruits of the Spirit, and they that are after the Spirit, as such are who partake of his fruit.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 16-26 - If it be our care to act under the guidance and power of the blesse Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and opposition of the corrupt nature which remains in us, it shall not have dominio over us. Believers are engaged in a conflict, in which they earnestl desire that grace may obtain full and speedy victory. And those wh desire thus to give themselves up to be led by the Holy Spirit, are no under the law as a covenant of works, nor exposed to its awful curse Their hatred of sin, and desires after holiness, show that they have part in the salvation of the gospel. The works of the flesh are man and manifest. And these sins will shut men out of heaven. Yet what numbers, calling themselves Christians, live in these, and say the hope for heaven! The fruits of the Spirit, or of the renewed nature which we are to do, are named. And as the apostle had chiefly name works of the flesh, not only hurtful to men themselves, but tending to make them so to one another, so here he chiefly notices the fruits of the Spirit, which tend to make Christians agreeable one to another, a well as to make them happy. The fruits of the Spirit plainly show, tha such are led by the Spirit. By describing the works of the flesh an fruits of the Spirit, we are told what to avoid and oppose, and what we are to cherish and cultivate; and this is the sincere care an endeavour of all real Christians. Sin does not now reign in their mortal bodies, so that they obey it, Ro 6:12, for they seek to destro it. Christ never will own those who yield themselves up to be the servants of sin. And it is not enough that we cease to do evil, but we must learn to do well. Our conversation will always be answerable to the principle which guides and governs us, Ro 8:5. We must se ourselves in earnest to mortify the deeds of the body, and to walk in newness of life. Not being desirous of vain-glory, or unduly wishin for the esteem and applause of men, not provoking or envying on another, but seeking to bring forth more abundantly those good fruits which are, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
πραοτης 4236 εγκρατεια 1466 κατα 2596 των 3588 τοιουτων 5108 ουκ 3756 εστιν 2076 5748 νομος 3551
Vincent's NT Word Studies
23. Meekness (prauthv). See on meek, Matt. v. 5.
Temperance (egkrateia). Only here by Paul. He alone uses ejgkrateuesqai to have continency, I Corinthians vii. 9; ix. 25. See on is temperate, 1 Corinthians 9;25. The word means self-control, holding in hand the passions and desires. So Xen. Mem. i. 2, 1, of Socrates, who was ejgkratestatov most temperate as to sexual pleasures and pleasures of the appetite.
Such (toioutwn). Such things, not persons.
There is no law (ouk estin nomov). Against such virtues there is no law to condemn them. The law can bring no charge against them. Comp. 1 Timothy i. 9,10.
