Galatians 5:13

Practice Love

5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; ¹  only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, ²  but through love serve one another. ³ 

Galatians 5:17

5:17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires ⁴  that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to ⁵  each other, so that you cannot do what you want.

¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.

² tn Grk “as an opportunity for the flesh”; BDAG 915 s.v. σάρξ 2.c.α states: “In Paul’s thought esp., all parts of the body constitute a totality known as σ. or flesh, which is dominated by sin to such a degree that wherever flesh is, all forms of sin are likew. present, and no good thing can live in the σάρξ…Gal 5:13, 24;…Opp. τὸ πνεῦμα…Gal 3:3; 5:16, 17ab; 6:8ab.”

³ tn It is possible that the verb δουλεύετε (douleuete) should be translated “serve one another in a humble manner” here, referring to the way in which slaves serve their masters (see L&N 35.27).

⁴ tn The words “has desires” do not occur in the Greek text a second time, but are repeated in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Or “are hostile toward” (L&N 39.1).