Paul concludes Galatians chapter 5 with an emphasis he has already preached earlier, in fact, just one paragraph ago. Therefore, this warning must be important!
“Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:26 (today’s Text), which is much like Galatians 5:20-21 where Christians are to avoid “hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders … and such like.”
Do you see what I mean?
The expression not be “desirous of vain glory” translates “kenodoxos,” a blend of the Greek words for “emptiness” and “bragging.” In a word, “conceit.”
Then Paul uses two participles, both present tense … “provoking” and “envying.” Both activities being sinful, here anyway.
The first, “prokaleo,” literally means “to call forth.” As in “challenging someone to an argument, or to combat, or to a selfish contest!” This is the only time “prokaleo” occurs in all the New Testament! The Apostle Paul, what a brilliant wordsmith!
Then “phthoneo” (yes it is spelled right), “to long for something too much, to the point of sin!” To wish for something that belongs to another, to acquire it for oneself! Another scholar says: “an obsessive desire for gain!” Even, “to bear a grudge, ill-will or malice!”
Wow!
What practical preaching!
Also … Paul places the Greek prohibitive “me” (pronounced “may”) at the very beginning of his Sentence. It means “not,” of course. But this isn’t the strongest “not” in the Greek language, meaning Paul knows human nature quite well. DO THE BEST POSSIBLE TO NEVER PROVOKE OR ENVY ONE ANOTHER! GIVE SUCH BEHAVIOR YOUR STRONGEST EFFORT. AND OF COURSE, ALL THE WHILE DILIGENTLY LEAN ON THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR HELP!
And this too. I think further proving my point, in this context anyway.
The little verb “be” (“ginomai”) at the first of the Verse (“Let us not BE desirous of vain glory ….”) is present tense but SUBJUNCTIVE mood! Expressing a desire or wish (hoping for the ideal situation) … not here a stark command!
And these things a Christian must avoid … constantly, hence these three present tense action words! Let them (vain glory and provocation and envy) not be a part of your daily living!
Wow!
“Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
What NOT to do to each other!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Now tomorrow morning, the Lord willing, we will learn one thing we are to do to one another! An interesting Lesson upcoming, for sure.