Bible Doctrine of Walking Biblically

July 2007, Tod Kennedy

1. Walking refers to the regular and progressive movement through life. When you walk you take a step at a time.

1.1. You do not get to the destination all at once or even rapidly, but if you keep walking you will get there.

1.2. When you walk to emphasize what you are doing at the moment, where you are at the moment, and what you have around you. When you walk you can enjoy the scenery, can talk, can think.

2. The Bible talks about life from three views: stand, walk, run.

2.1. Stand (doctrine: stand firm) emphasizes your strength, protection, foundation, and so your motivation and confidence (e.g. Phil 4.1).

2.2. Walk (doctrine: walking) emphasizes the regular and progressive movement through life (e.g. 1 Thessalonians 2.12).

2.3. Run (doctrine: running) emphasizes the purpose and the goal of life, the finish line (e.g. 1 Corinthians 9.24-27).

3. New Testament words for walking include:

3.1. PERIPATEO (BAG649) means to go around or to walk around, and fig. for the walk of life.  It is used for literal walking in Mt 4:18.  But it is used primarily for day to day movement in the plan of God in the Church Age in such passages as Romans 6:4; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:2. It is used for the carnal Christian as well in I Corinthians 3:3 and Philippians 3:18.  It is used for the life of the unbeliever in Ephesians 2:2 and Colossians 3:7.

3.2. STOICHEO (BAG 769) means to march in step, to march in rank, to walk in agreement with, to agree with, to follow a leader from the ranks.  It is used in the New Testament primarily for functioning in a system and advancing in that system to spiritual maturity.  It is used for marching in step with the Holy Spirit Galatians 5:25.  It is used for the pattern of salvation by faith set by Abraham in Romans 4:12.  It is used for following the rules of the new spiritual species in Galatians 6:16. Use for marching in line following the maturity you have attained in Philippians 3:16.

3.3. POREUOMAI (BAG 692) means to go, to proceed, to travel, to conduct oneself in a certain manner, to live, and to walk.  It is used for national life pattern in Acts 14:16.  It is used for the carnal life pattern of the unbeliever in I Pet 4:3; Jude 16,18; 2 Pet 2:10, 3:3.  It is used for occupation with the person of Jesus Christ on the part of believers in Acts 9:31.

3.4. ANASTREPHO (BAG 61) means to upset, to overturn, to live, to stay, to behave, to conduct oneself, to associate.  Its figurative meaning was to behave or to function in terms of human conduct; also used for the practice of principles.  It is used for the conduct of the unbeliever in Ephesians 2:3.  It is used for the conduct of believers in Hebrews 13:18.  It is used for the patter of life of the old man in Ephesians 4:22.  The noun is used for life and conduct in the plan of God in 2 Peter 3:11.

3.5. ORTHOPEDEO (BAG 580) means to walk straight, upright, to act rightly, be straightforward.  It is used for legalistic in Galatians 2:14. They were not walking straight.

4.  Categories in which the believer is to walk in order to live the Christian life. This emphasizes consistent progress (1 Thessalonians 2.12).

4.1.  Newness of life

4.2.  Holy Spirit

4.3.  Faith

4.4.  The Word

4.5.  The Light

4.6.  Status Quo

4.7.  Fear of the Lord-Occupation  with Christ

4.8.  Love

4.9.  Present Maturity

4.10. Divine Good

4.11. Wisely

4.12. Worthy

5. The categories for the Christian walk documented:

5.1. Newness of life

5.1.1.We are to walk in newness of resurrection kind of life because we died and were buried with Christ (Rom 6.4).

5.1.2.Walk like children of light since we are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5.8).

5.1.3.Walk in the new creation pattern, new spiritual specie (Galatians 6.16).

5.2. Holy Spirit

5.2.1.Those who walk according to the Holy Spirit fulfill the righteousness demanded by the law (Romans 8.1-4). Spirituality

5.2.2.Walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5.16, 26).

5.3  The Faith

5.3.1  Walk as you received Christ, by faith (Colossians 2.6).

5.3.2  Walk by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5.7)

5.4  The Word

5.4.1  Walk as Christ walked if you say you abide in Him (1 John 2.6).

5.4.2  Walk in the commandments of Christ, this is love (2 John 6).

5.4.3  Walk in truth (3 John 4).

5.5  The Light

5.5.1 Follower of Christ shall not walk in darkness, but in light because He is the light of the world (John 8.12).

5.5.2 Walk in the light in reference to the believer living the plan of God (1 John 1.7).

5.6  Status quo

5.6.1 Walk in the status quo until God guides or moves you to change (1 Corinthians 7.17).

5.7  In the fear of the Lord and occupation with Christ

5.7.1 Many in early churches were walking in the fear of the Lord
(Acts 9.31).

5.8  Love

5.8.1 Walk in love (Ephesians 5.2).

5.9  Present maturity

5.9.1 Walk at the level of maturity you have reached (Philippians 3.16).

5.10  Good works or spiritual production

5.10.1 Walk in God's plan for good works (Ephesians 2.10).

5.11  Wisely

5.11.1 We are to walk properly or decently or orderly, in such a way that need not be hidden (Rom 13.13). test and temptation

5.11.2 Walk like children of light since we are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5.8).

5.11.3 Walk wisely, make application of doctrine (Ephesians 5.15).

5.11.4 Some believers walk like Paul, applying doctrine. They are examples (Philippians 3.17).

5.11.5 Walk in wisdom toward the unbeliever (Colossians 4.5).

5.11.6 Increase in your Christian Way of Life walk and please God –sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4.1).

5.11.7 Walk properly toward unbelievers (1 Thessalonians 4.12).

5.12  Walk worthy

5.12.1 Walk worthy of the vocation--humility (Ephesians 4.1).

5.12.2 Walk worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1.10).

5.12.3 Walk worthy of God, who called you into His kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2.12).

6. World System Walking

6.1. Carnal believers walk like unbelievers (1 Corinthians 3.3).

6.2. Do not walk like unbelievers (Ephesians 4.17).

6.3. Some walk in such a way that they are enemies of the gospel (Philippians 3.18).

6.4. Believers walk disorderly, busybodies (2 Thessalonians 3.1).

6.5. Believers walk in darkness, yet claim to have fellowship (1 John 1.6).

6.6. Nations walk in their own ways (Acts 14.16).

Appendix

Scripture and the doctrine: walking

1.  Follower of Christ shall not walk in darkness, but in light because He is the light of the world (John 8.12).

2.  Nations walk in their own ways (Acts 14.16).

3.  We are to walk in newness of resurrection kind of life because we died and were buried with Christ (Romans 6.4).

4.   Those who walk according to the Holy Spirit fulfill the righteousness demanded by the law (Romans 8.1-4). Spirituality

5.  We are to walk properly or decently or orderly, in such a way that need not be hidden (Romans 13.13). test and temptation

6.   Carnal believers walk like unbelievers (1 Corinthians 3.3).

7.   Walk in the status quo until God guides or moves you to change (1 Corinthians 7.17).

8.   Walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5.7).

9.   Believers live in fleshy bodies in the world (2 Corinthians 10.3).

10.  Walk in the Spirit (Gal 5.16, 26).

11.  Walk in the new creation pattern, new spiritual specie (Galatians 6.16).

12.  Walk in God's plan for good works (Ephesians 2.10).

13.  Walk worthy of the vocation--humility (Ephesians 4.1).

14.  Do not walk like unbelievers (Ephesians 4.17).

15.  Walk in love (Ephesians 5.2).

16.  Walk like children of light since we are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5.8).

17.  Walk wisely, make application of doctrine (Ephesians 5.15).

18.  Walk at the level of maturity you have reached (Philippians 3.16).

19.  Some believers walk like Paul, applying doctrine. They are examples (Philippians 3.17).

20.  Some walk in such a way that they are enemies of the gospel (Philippians 3.18).

21.  Walk worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1.10).

22.  Walk as you received Christ, by faith (Colossians 2.6).

23.  Walk in wisdom toward the unbeliever (Colossians 4.5).

24.  Walk worthy of God, who called you into his kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2.12).

25.  Increase in your Christian walk and please God—sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4.1).

26.  Walk properly toward unbelievers (1 Thessalonians 4.12).

27.  Believers walk disorderly, busybodies (2 Thessalonians 3.1).

28.  Believers walk in darkness, yet claim to have fellowship (1 John 1.6).

29.  Walk in the light in reference to the believer living the plan of God (1 John 1.7).

30.  Walk as Christ walked if you say you abide in Him (1 John 2.6).

31.  Walk in the commandments of Christ, this is love (2 John 6).

32.  Walk in truth (3 John 4).

33.  Some will walk with Christ in white-rewards (Revelation 3.4).

34.  People will walk in the light of the glory of God in the eternal state (Revelation 21.24).