5:25a

Since we live by the Spirit: In Greek this phrase is more literally “If we live by the Spirit.” It is a rhetorical question in Greek. In this “if” clause, Paul stated a true fact. The Galatians, as believers, received life from the Spirit. In some languages, it may be more natural to translate the “if” by “since,” as the Berean Standard Bible has done. In other languages, it may be best to leave it untranslated. For example:

Since we are living by the Spirit, (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
We get our new life from the Spirit (New Century Version)

we live by the Spirit: This clause means that believers get their new life from the Spirit. The Spirit is the source of their spiritual life.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

the Spirit is the source of our life (Revised English Bible)
-or-
God’s Spirit has given us life (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
We get our new life from the Spirit (New Century Version)

5:25b

let us walk in step with the Spirit: In Greek the word the Berean Standard Bible translates as let us walk is more literally “let us follow” or “let us be in line with.” Paul wanted the Galatians to follow closely the Spirit’s leading and allow the Spirit to direct their lives. This command is similar to 5:16a, but the Greek verbs are different.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

let us live as the Spirit wants us to live
-or-
let him be the one who leads/guides us
-or-
and so we should follow the Spirit (Contemporary English Version)

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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