^5:13For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters;²¹ only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh,²² but through love serve one another.²³^5:14For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment,²⁴ namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”²⁵^5:15However, if you continually bite and devour one another,²⁶ beware that you are not consumed²⁷ by one another. ^5:16But I say, live²⁸ by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.²⁹

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Galatians 5:13: For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Footnotes

21 Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in .
22 Grk “as an opportunity for the flesh”; 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 like. 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.”
23 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).
24 Or “can be fulfilled in one commandment.”
25 A quotation from Lev 19:18.
26 That is, “if you are harming and exploiting one another.” Paul’s metaphors are retained in most modern translations, but it is possible to see the meanings of δάκνω and κατεσθίω (daknō and katesthiō, L&N 20.26 and 88.145) as figurative extensions of the literal meanings of these terms and to translate them accordingly. The present tenses here are translated as customary presents (“continually …”).
27 Or “destroyed.”
28 Grk “walk” (a common NT idiom for how one conducts one’s life or how one behaves).
29 On the term “flesh” (once in this verse and twice in v. 17) see the note on the same word in .

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.

NLTNew Living Translation

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

But I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never carry out the desire of the flesh.

KJV 1900King James Version

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

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