Entry 2014 Art Prize
While reading an article on what the Apostle Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit, I was struck by the author’s reminder of something that we might regard as either too obvious to mention, or a wonderful re-discovery of what we already know.
The author pointed out that it’s important to remember that the fruit of the spirit are given to us in a verb form that is in the indicative rather than imperative mood. This means that the fruit is description of fact (indicative) rather than a command (imperative).
In other words, in Paul’s letter to the Galatians he is describing the fruit of the spirit rather than telling us to do them.
Since other Scriptures do urge us to do the same things (do love; do be joyful; do be patient; do be self-controlled; do be gentle; do seek peace; do be kind; do be good; do be faithful), it seems that Paul is telling us how to do them (not in the inclinations and results of the flesh but in the inclinations and result of the Spirit/spirit).
So now I’m wondering if you would compare notes with me about what you think may be either too obvious to mention, or a wonderful re-discovery of what we already know: What is your take on how we are to walk in the Spirit (imperative) to show that we live in the Spirit (descriptively)?
If you have time, here are some of the texts that caught my attention as I re-read Galatians again to think about how Paul gets to the fruit of the Spirit.
(Gal 1:3-4); (Gal 1:6); (Gal 1:13-14); (Gal 1:21-24); (Gal 2:16); (Gal 2:19-21); Gal 3:2-3); (Gal 3:13-14); (Gal 5:1); (Gal 5:5); (Gal 5:13-15); (Gal 5:16); (Gal 5:17-18); (Gal 5:19-21); (Gal 5:22-23); (Gal 5:25-26).
(+14 rating, 15 votes)
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