Walk (follow, keep in step, live) (4748) stoicheo

Walk (4748) (stoicheo from stoichos = row, line, rank; see word study of stoicheion = elements, basic foundational things like letters of the alphabet) is literally to walk in line, walk in a straight line, proceed in a row, to follow in someone’s footsteps. To keep in rank and file. To march in in file or in battle order. BDAG writes that stoicheo means... to be in line with a person or thing considered as standard for one’s conduct, Figuratively it means to behave properly, to conduct one’s life, to live in conformity with some presumed standard or set of customs (cf Acts 21:24; Php 3:16-note). To live in harmony or agreement with, to live in conformity with (eg, with the Spirit, as in Galatians 5:25). The word was used for movement in a definite line, as in military formation or dancing. Notice that stoicheo is in the present tense which points to continual and habitual action in the believer's life. To walk in line with the Spirit is our continual need! Vine comments that... The walk of Galatians 5:16 is the general manner of the life of the individual believer considered in itself; here it is his manner of life in relation with others. That is an exhortation to walk boldly and firmly as guided and enabled by the Holy Spirit; this (Galatians 5:25) is an exhortation to keep step with one another in the same strength and guidance. Submission of heart (for the comprehensive use of this word in the Scriptures 1Thessalonians 2:4-note) to the Holy Spirit alone secures peace to the individual and harmony to the church. He who walks by the Spirit in his private life is the man who, by the same Spirit, keeps step with his brethren. The obvious way to uniformity of step is that each should keep step with the leader of all, that is, with Christ. To be in step with Him is to be in step with all who walk with Him. Hence in order to attain to unity in the church each is to watch not his brother, but his Lord. (Bolding added) (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos) Paul had used the related noun stoicheion (see word study) twice in Galatians 4... So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. (Galatians 4:3) (Ryrie explains that in context this refers to "the bondage of a legalistic practice of Judaism or for Gentiles the bondage of heathenism" - The Ryrie Study Bible) (The idea is that they were in bondage to laws, rituals, ceremonies, etc [whether the Law for Jews or pagan teachings for Gentiles], that they felt they must perform in order to accepted by or pleasing to God.) But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? (Galatians 4:9) UBS Handbook writes that stoicheo as... used here can be literally translated “to walk in a straight line” and probably means in this context “to behave properly according to accepted standards.” Eadie writes that stoicheo... signifies to advance in order or in a row—in battle order, and hence, ethically, to walk according to rule; perhaps, from its literal meaning, having the sense of a more definite walk than the vaguer peripateo. (Eadie, John: Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians) Paul says we need to keep in step with the Holy Spirit. Just like when we were children and played the game, now as Christians it is not a game but a vital necessity to "follow the Leader” and understand that He is truly in charge. If we "get out of step" (eg, we ignore the prompting of the Spirit) we will be unable to resist the passions and desires of our flesh. George writes that stoicheo... In Hellenistic philosophical circles... was used to mean “follow someone’s philosophical principles.” It suggests, therefore, the basic idea of discipleship: conformity to Christ under the leadership of the Spirit. Therefore, just as we put to death the old existence of the flesh in mortification, so too we move forward in the life of faith by keeping in step with the Spirit in our attitudes, conduct, and lifestyle. (Ibid) There are only 5 uses of stoicheo in the NT (once in Lxx of Eccl 11:6)... Acts 21:24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses in order that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law. (Comment: The point is to be in the ranks of those who keep the Law) Romans 4:12 (note) and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. Vine comments that "The word in the original here is stoicheo, which signifies the general conduct of a person in relation to others. The more frequent word peripateo signifies activities and conduct of the individual life, that is to say, apart from relation to others. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos) Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 6:16 And those who will walk by this rule (see context Gal 6:14-15), peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Philippians 3:16 (note) however, let us keep living by that same standard (this word added by translators; one could substitute "path") to which we have attained. (Let our conduct be consistent with what we have already attained. Believers must keep to the spiritual path that they have been following.) Vincent writes that "The idea of a regulative standard is implied". A T Robertson says "Paul means simply this that, having come thus far, the thing to do is to go “in the same path” in which we have been travelling so far. A needed lesson for Christians weary with the monotony of routine in religious life and work." Vine writes that " Keeping step with one another depends upon keeping step with Christ, the leader of all. To be in step with Him is to be in step with all who walk with Him. Accordingly the apostle enjoins upon the church at Philippi the maintenance of a walk in unison in regard to the oneness of aim to which they have attained. Let them act according to the example set by him. (Ibid) Spurgeon comments... If our spiritual life is the result of a divine work, let our actions be in harmony with it J Vernon McGee has an excellent practical note on what it means to "keep in step with the Spirit" writing that... A professor in a theological seminary called my attention to the word walk in this verse several years ago, and it has meant a great deal to me. As you recall, back in verse 16 a “walk in the Spirit” is peripateo (click word study), but here “walk” is a different Greek word. It is stoichomen, which is basic and elemental, meaning “to proceed or step in order.” In verse 16 we were given the principle of walk; here in verse 25 it means to learn to walk. Just as we learned to walk physically by the trial and error method, so are we to begin to walk by the Spirit—it is a learning process. Let me illustrate this principle with a ridiculous illustration. What is walking? Walking is putting one foot in front of the other. You may have heard about the knock-kneed girl. One knee said to the other, “If you let me by this time, I will let you by next time.” That is walking, putting one foot in front of the other. This means to learn to walk. How did you learn to walk? Were you given a lecture on the subject? Did you go to a school and take a course in learning to walk? One summer my grandson, who was about twelve months old at the time, stayed with us for a time. He was just standing and wobbling along. I did not put him in his high chair and tell him about the physical mechanism of the foot. I did not give him a lecture on the psychology of walking or the sociological implications of walking. If I had explained all of these things to my grandson, could he have lifted the tray of his high chair and walked off? No, my friend, that is not the way you learn to walk. You learn to walk by trial and error. One time my grandson fell down hard, and he had a big knot on his forehead. He fell many times, but before long he was walking and running and climbing as surefooted as a mountain goat. He learned to do it by just doing it, by trial and error. This is the way we are to learn to walk in the Spirit—by trial and error. I know people who have attended Keswick conferences, spiritual life conferences, and Bible conferences; they have their notebooks filled with notes on how to live the Christian life. Still they are not living it. What is the problem? You have to learn to walk in the Spirit, which means you are to start out. Why not start now? Say, “I am going to walk in the Spirit. I am going to depend upon the Holy Spirit to produce the fruits in my life.” Perhaps you are thinking that you might fall down. I have news for you—you are going to fall. It will hurt. You say, “How many times will I fall?” I don’t know. I am still falling. But that is the way you are going to walk in the Spirit, and that’s the only way. My friend, you need to step out today and begin leaning upon the Spirit of God. Yield yourself to Him; it is an act of the will. Every day I start my day by saying, “Lord, I can’t live today in a way that pleases You, and I want You to do it through me.” I find there are times when I don’t get but a few blocks from home when something happens. One morning a woman in a Volkswagen cut in front of me. I had been so nice and sweet up to then, but I drove up beside her car and I told her what she had done. And she told me a thing or two right back. When she drove off, I thought, My, I sure fell on my face! When I do that, I just get up and start over again." (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or Logos) Wuest writes that... We do not appropriate the control of the Spirit unless we desire Him to control us. A desire for His control will include among other things, a desire that He cause us to judge sin in our lives, a desire that He put sin out of our lives and keep it out, a desire that He separate us from all the ties we might have with that system of evil called the world, a desire that He dethrone our self-life and enthrone the Lord Jesus as absolute Lord and Master, a desire that He produce in us His own fruit, a desire that He make us Christlike, a desire that He lead us and teach us. Such a desire is a serious thing. It involves crucifixion of self (Ed note: Cp Luke 9:23 "Let him deny himself and take up his cross daily" - The cross was an instrument of death and death speaks of separation, in Luke 9:23 referring possibly to physical death but also to death to the old self life initiated and empowered by the flesh), and self dies hard. The Spirit-controlled life is a crucified life. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos) C Norman Bartlett writes that... "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." The word, "walk" in this verse means "to march in rank or keep in step with." This teaches that compliance with the will of the SPIRIT is no less important than reliance on the grace of the SPIRIT. If we expect to win major victories for CHRIST in the crucial battles of life, it is imperative that we obey the Spirit’s bidding day in and day out. (C. Norman Bartlett: Galatians and You: Studies in the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, 1948) C H Spurgeon's Devotional entitled "Live in the Spirit "on Galatians 5:25 The two most important things in our holy religion are the life of faith and the walk of faith. He who shall rightly understand these is not far from being a master in experimental theology, for they are vital points to a Christian. You will never find true faith unattended by true godliness; on the other hand, you will never discover a truly holy life which has not for its root a living faith upon the righteousness of Christ. Woe unto those who seek after the one without the other! There are some who cultivate faith and forget holiness; these may be very high in orthodoxy, but they shall be very deep in condemnation, for they hold the truth in unrighteousness; and there are others who have strained after holiness of life, but have denied the faith, like the Pharisees of old, of whom the Master said, they were "whitewashed sepulchres." We must have faith, for this is the foundation; we must have holiness of life, for this is the superstructure. Of what service is the mere foundation of a building to a man in the day of tempest? Can he hide himself therein? He wants a house to cover him, as well as a foundation for that house. Even so we need the superstructure of spiritual life if we would have comfort in the day of doubt. But seek not a holy life without faith, for that would be to erect a house which can afford no permanent shelter, because it has no foundation on a rock. Let faith and life be put together, and, like the two abutments of an arch, they will make our piety enduring. Like light and heat streaming from the same sun, they are alike full of blessing. Like the two pillars of the temple, they are for glory and for beauty. They are two streams from the fountain of grace; two lamps lit with holy fire; two olive trees watered by heavenly care. O Lord, give us this day life within, and it will reveal itself without to thy glory. Galatians 5:26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. (NASB: Lockman) Greek: me ginometha (1PPMS) kenodoxoi, allelous prokaloumenoi, (PMPMPN) allelois phthonountes. (PAPMPN) Amplified: Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another. (Amplified Bible - Lockman) Barclay: Don’t become seekers after empty reputation; don’t provoke each other; don’t envy each other. (Westminster Press) Kistemaker: Let us neither brag about that which we have (or think we have), thereby calling forth equally pretentious swagger on the part of the person to whom we are speaking, nor grudge that other person what he has. (Baker Books) KJV: Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. NLT: Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another. (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: Let us not be ambitious for our own reputations, for that only means making each other jealous. (Phillips: Touchstone) Weymouth: Let us not become vain-glorious, challenging one another, envying one another. Wuest: Let us stop becoming vain-glorious, provoking one another, envying one another (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: let us not become vain-glorious--one another provoking, one another envying! LET US NOT BECOME BOASTFUL, CHALLENGING ONE ANOTHER, ENVYING ONE ANOTHER: me ginometha (1PPMS) kenodoxoi, allelous prokaloumenoi, (PMPMPN) allelois phthonountes. (PAPMPN): (Luke 14:10; 1Corinthians 3:7; Philippians 2:1, 2, 3; James 4:16) (Gal 5:15; James 3:14, 15, 16; 1Peter 5:5) Let us not become boastful - This verse marks one of those unfortunate chapter divisions which is somewhat misleading. The exhortation here is better considered as an introduction to the contrasting behavior Paul calls for in Galatians 6:1-6. In that section Paul warned that in "bearing one another's burdens" there is the ever present temptation to deal with church members (especially if they are in sin) out of a self-righteous, judgmental attitude rather than from a humble and righteous concern for the purity of the Body of Christ. Matthew Poole agrees writing that... Possibly this verse might more properly have been made the first of the next chapter, (as Luther maketh it), where the apostle goeth on, pressing further spiritual duties common to all Christians. (Ibid) Let us not become - Based on the truth that we now have the power to walk and an exhortation to walk in a brand new way with our brethren in Christ, Paul exhorts them to be alert to the ever present tendency in all of us to "slip back" into fleshly thoughts, words and deeds. If the brethren manifest these sinful attitudes and actions toward one another they are not living like those who have been crucified with Christ and who are keeping in step with the Spirit. Become (1096) (ginomai) is in the present tense, subjunctive mood which in this context conveys the idea "Let us cease becoming vainglorious", boasting where we literally have nothing to boast about! Spurgeon observes that... We call it glory, but if vain glory it is marred by vanity if it arises from anything done by us. Glory for you or for me because of anything that we can do is too absurd an idea to be entertained for a moment. (Why is this to be avoided?) For, whenever a man is proud, and blustering, and vain-glorious, he is sure to provoke somebody or other, and then they who are so provoked fall into another sin, viz., the sin of envying one another. Do Christian people need to be talked to like this? Ay, that they do, for the best of men are but men at their best, and the godliest saint is liable to fall into the fondest sin unless the grace of God prevent. (Ed note: Cannot we all identify with Spurgeon's wise warnings?) Oh, that we could expel from the Church of Christ all vain glorying, all provoking of one another, and all envying of one another! How often, if one Christian brother does a little more than his fellow-workers, they begin to find fault with him; and if one is blessed with greater success than others are, how frequently that success is disparaged and spoken of slightingly! This spirit of envy is, more or less, in us all; and though, perhaps we are not exhibiting it just now, it only needs a suitable opportunity for its display, and it would be manifested. No man here has any idea of how bad he really is. You do not know how good the grace of God can make you, nor how bad you are by nature, nor how bad you might become if that nature were left to itself. Stott has written This is a very instructive verse because it shows that our conduct to others is determined by our opinion of ourselves. (Only One Way) John Calvin wrote that... Of many evils existing in society at large, and particularly in the church, ambition is the mother. Paul therefore directs us to guard against it, for the vain-glory of which he speaks is nothing else than ambition or the desire of honor, by which every one desires to excel all others. The heathen philosophers do not condemn every desire of glory; but among Christians, whoever is desirous of glory departs from true glory, and therefore is justly charged with idle and foolish ambition. It is not lawful for us to glow but in God alone. Every other kind of glorying is pure vanity. Mutual provocations and envyings are the daughters of ambition. He who aspires to the highest rank must of necessity envy all others, and disrespectful, biting, stinging language is the unavoidable consequence. (Commentary on Galatians 5:22-26) (Are we not all convicted by Calvin's pithy, "meddlesome" comments!) Lightfoot comments that... There is a gradation in the phrases used here. Vainglory provokes contention; contention produces envy. (St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/galatians_524-26.htm#walk

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Walk (follow, keep in step, live) (4748) stoicheo

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