Paul uses the word “walk” many times in his epistles. The verb peripateo occurs 96 times in the New Testament. In the KJV it is translated “walk” in all but three places. As one can see from the passages below, Paul uses “walk” in predominately metaphorical way. Abbott-Smith says that the word is used “metaphorically, of living, passing one’s life, conducting oneself” (pg. 356). Thayer says that it means “to regulate one’s life, to conduct one’s self” (pg. 504). Consider some of the walks of Paul.
- “And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised” (Romans 4:12).
- “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
- “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).
- “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men” (1 Corinthians 3:3).
- “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Ephesians 4:1).
- “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ephesians 5:2).
- “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15).
- “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (Philippians 3:16).
- “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing” (1 Thessalonians 4:12).
How will you walk? Will it be honestly? Will it be circumspectly? Will it be worthy of your calling? As Joshua said, “Choose you this day …” (24:15). Living righteously all boils down to a choice. Will you make the right one?
Kyle Campbell