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Selected Verse: Galatians 5:13 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ga 5:13 |
Strong Concordance |
For [1063], brethren [80], ye [5210] have been called [2564] unto [1909] liberty [1657]; only [3440] use not [3361] liberty [1657] for [1519] an occasion [874] to the flesh [4561], but [235] by [1223] love [26] serve [1398] one another [240]. |
| |
King James |
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
The "ye" is emphatical, from its position in the Greek, "Ye brethren"; as opposed to those legalists "who trouble you."
unto liberty--The Greek expresses, "on a footing of liberty." The state or condition in which ye have been called to salvation, is one of liberty. Gospel liberty consists in three things, freedom from the Mosaic yoke, from sin, and from slavish fear.
only, &c.--Translate, "Only turn not your liberty into an occasion for the flesh." Do not give the flesh the handle or pretext (Rom 7:8, "occasion") for its indulgence which it eagerly seeks for; do not let it make Christian "liberty" its pretext for indulgence (Gal 5:16-17; Pe1 2:16; Pe2 2:19; Jde 1:4).
but by love serve one another--Greek, "Be servants (be in bondage) to one another." If ye must be servants, then be servants to one another in love. While free as to legalism, be bound by Love (the article in the Greek personifies love in the abstract) to serve one another (Co1 9:19). Here he hints at their unloving strifes springing out of lust of power. "For the lust of power is the mother of heresies" [CHRYSOSTOM]. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty - Freedom from Jewish rites and ceremonies; see the notes at Gal 3:28; Gal 4:9, note, Gal 4:21-31, note. The meaning here is, that Paul wished the false teachers removed because true Christians had been called unto liberty, and they were abridging and destroying that liberty. They were not in subjection to the Law of Moses, or to anything else that savored of bondage. They were free; free from the servitude of sin, and free from subjection to expensive and burdensome rites and customs. They were to remember this as a great and settled principle; and so vital a truth was this, and so important that it should be maintained, and so great the evil of forgetting it, that Paul says he earnestly wishes Gal 5:12 that all who would reduce them to that state of servitude were cut off from the Christian church.
Only use not liberty ... - The word use here introduced by our translators, obscures the sense. The idea is, "You are called to liberty, but it is not liberty for an occasion to the flesh. It is not freedom from virtuous restraints, and from the laws of God. It is liberty from the servitude of sin, and religious rites and ceremonies, not freedom from the necessary restraints of virtue." It was necessary to give this caution, because:
(1) There was a strong tendency in all converts from paganism to relapse again into their former habits. Licentiousness abounded, and where they had been addicted to it before their conversion, and where they were surrounded by it on every hand, they were in constant danger of falling into it again. A bare and naked declaration, therefore, that they had been called to liberty, to freedom from restraint, might have been misunderstood, and some might have supposed that they were free from all restraints.
(2) it is needful to guard the doctrine from abuse at all times. There has been a strong tendency, as the history of the church has shown, to abuse the doctrine of grace. The doctrine that Christians are "free;" that there is liberty to them from restraint, has been perverted always by Antinomians, and been made the occasion of their indulging freely in sin. And the result has shown that nothing was more important than to guard the doctrine of Christian liberty, and to show exactly what Christians are freed from, and what laws are still binding on them. Paul is, therefore, at great pains to show that the doctrines which he had maintained did not lead to licentiousness, and did not allow the indulgence of sinful and corrupt passions.
An occasion - As allowing indulgence to the flesh, or as a furtherance or help to corrupt passions; see the word explained in the notes at Rom 7:8.
To the flesh - The word flesh is often used in the writings of Paul to denote corrupt and gross passions and affections; see the notes at Rom 7:18; Rom 8:1, note.
But by love serve one another - By the proper manifestation of love one to another strive to promote each other's welfare. To do this will not be inconsistent with the freedom of the gospel. When there is love there is no servitude. Duty is pleasant, and offices of kindness agreeable. Paul does not consider them as freed from all law and all restraint; but they are to be governed by the law of love. They were not to feel that they were so free that they might lawfully give indulgence to the desires of the flesh, but they were to regard themselves as under the law to love one another; and thus they would fulfil the law of Christian freedom. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
For (γὰρ)
Well may I speak thus strongly of those who thus overthrow your whole polity and enslave you, for ye are called for freedom.
Unto liberty (ἐπ' ἐλευθερίᾳ)
Better, for freedom. See on unto uncleanness, Th1 4:7. Ἑπὶ marks the intention.
Only (μόνον)
For a similar use of the word, qualifying or limiting a general statement, comp. Co1 7:39; Gal 2:10; Phi 1:27; Th2 2:7.
Use not liberty (τὴν ἐλευθερίαν)
Use is not in the Greek. We may supply hold or make or turn.
Occasion (ἀφορμὴν)
See on Rom 7:8. Almost exclusively in Paul.
To the flesh (τῃ σαρκί)
See on Rom 7:5. The flesh here represents lovelessness and selfishness. Christian freedom is not to be abused for selfish ends. Paul treats this subject at length in Co1 8:1-13; Co1 12:25, Co1 12:26. Individual liberty is subject to the law of love and mutual service. Comp. Pe1 2:16.
By love (διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης)
Or through love, through which faith works (Gal 5:6). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Ye have been called to liberty - From sin and misery, as well as from the ceremonial law. Only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh - Take not occasion from hence to gratify corrupt nature. But by love serve one another - And hereby show that Christ has made you free. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Ye have been called unto liberty - A total freedom from all the burthensome rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law. Only use not that liberty for an occasion to the flesh. By flesh, here, we may understand all the unrenewed desires and propensities of the mind; whatsoever is not under the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit of God. Your liberty is from that which would oppress the spirit; not from that which would lay restraints on the flesh. The Gospel proclaims liberty from the ceremonial law: but binds you still faster under the moral law. To be freed from the ceremonial law is the Gospel liberty; to pretend freedom from the moral law is Antinomianism.
By love serve one another - Having that faith which worketh by love, serve each other to the uttermost of your power: δουλευετε, serve each other, when necessary, as slaves serve their masters. Several excellent MSS. and versions, instead of δια της αγαπης, by love, have τῃ αγαπῃ του Πνευματος, in the love of the Spirit serve one another. |
19 For [1063] though I be [5607] free [1658] from [1537] all [3956] men, yet have I made [1402] myself [1683] servant [1402] unto all [3956], that [2443] I might gain [2770] the more [4119].
4 For [1063] there are certain [5100] men [444] crept in unawares [3921], who [3588] were before [4270] of old [3819] ordained [4270] to [1519] this [5124] condemnation [2917], ungodly men [765], turning [3346] the grace [5485] of our [2257] God [2316] into [1519] lasciviousness [766], and [2532] denying [720] the only [3441] Lord [1203] God [2316], and [2532] our [2257] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].
19 While they promise [1861] them [846] liberty [1657], they themselves [846] are [5225] the servants [1401] of corruption [5356]: for [1063] of whom [3739] a man [5100] is overcome [2274], [2532] of the same [5129] is he brought in bondage [1402].
16 As [5613] free [1658], and [2532] not [3361] using [2192] your liberty [1657] for [5613] a cloke [1942] of maliciousness [2549], but [235] as [5613] the servants [1401] of God [2316].
16 This I say [3004] then [1161], Walk [4043] in the Spirit [4151], and [2532] ye shall [5055] not [3364] fulfil [5055] the lust [1939] of the flesh [4561].
17 For [1063] the flesh [4561] lusteth [1937] against [2596] the Spirit [4151], and [1161] the Spirit [4151] against [2596] the flesh [4561]: and [1161] these [5023] are contrary [480] the one to the other [240]: so that [2443] ye cannot [3363] do [4160] the things [5023] that [3739] [302] ye would [2309].
8 But [1161] sin [266], taking [2983] occasion [874] by [1223] the commandment [1785], wrought [2716] in [1722] me [1698] all manner of [3956] concupiscence [1939]. For [1063] without [5565] the law [3551] sin [266] was dead [3498].
1 There is therefore [686] now [3568] no [3762] condemnation [2631] to them which are in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424], who walk [4043] not [3361] after [2596] the flesh [4561], but [235] after [2596] the Spirit [4151].
18 For [1063] I know [1492] that [3754] in [1722] me [1698] (that is [5123], in [1722] my [3450] flesh [4561],) dwelleth [3611] no [3756] good thing [18]: for [1063] to will [2309] is present [3873] with me [3427]; but [1161] how to perform [2716] that which is good [2570] I find [2147] not [3756].
8 But [1161] sin [266], taking [2983] occasion [874] by [1223] the commandment [1785], wrought [2716] in [1722] me [1698] all manner of [3956] concupiscence [1939]. For [1063] without [5565] the law [3551] sin [266] was dead [3498].
12 I would [3785] they were [609] even [2532] cut off [609] which trouble [387] you [5209].
21 Tell [3004] me [3427], ye that desire [2309] to be [1511] under [5259] the law [3551], do ye [191] not [3756] hear [191] the law [3551]?
22 For [1063] it is written [1125], that [3754] Abraham [11] had [2192] two [1417] sons [5207], the one [1520] by [1537] a bondmaid [3814], [2532] the other [1520] by [1537] a freewoman [1658].
23 But [235] he [3303] who was of [1537] the bondwoman [3814] was born [1080] after [2596] the flesh [4561]; but [1161] he of [1537] the freewoman [1658] was by [1223] promise [1860].
24 Which things [3748] are [2076] an allegory [238]: for [1063] these [3778] are [1526] the two [1417] covenants [1242]; the one [3391] [3303] from [575] the mount [3735] Sinai [4614], which gendereth [1080] to [1519] bondage [1397], which [3748] is [2076] Agar [28].
25 For [1063] this Agar [28] is [2076] mount [3735] Sinai [4614] in [1722] Arabia [688], and [1161] answereth [4960] to Jerusalem [2419] which [3588] now is [3568], and [1161] is in bondage [1398] with [3326] her [846] children [5043].
26 But [1161] Jerusalem [2419] which is above [507] is [2076] free [1658], which [3748] is [2076] the mother [3384] of us [2257] all [3956].
27 For [1063] it is written [1125], Rejoice [2165], thou barren [4723] that bearest [5088] not [3756]; break forth [4486] and [2532] cry [994], thou that travailest [5605] not [3756]: for [3754] the desolate [2048] hath many more [4183] children [5043] than [3123] [2228] she which hath [2192] an husband [435].
28 Now [1161] we [2249], brethren [80], as [2596] Isaac [2464] was [2596], are [2070] the children [5043] of promise [1860].
29 But [235] as [5618] then [5119] he that was born [1080] after [2596] the flesh [4561] persecuted [1377] him that was born after [2596] the Spirit [4151], even [2532] so [3779] it is now [3568].
30 Nevertheless [235] what [5101] saith [3004] the scripture [1124]? Cast out [1544] the bondwoman [3814] and [2532] her [846] son [5207]: for [1063] the son [5207] of the bondwoman [3814] shall [2816] not [3364] be heir [2816] with [3326] the son [5207] of the freewoman [1658].
31 So then [686], brethren [80], we are [2070] not [3756] children [5043] of the bondwoman [3814], but [235] of the free [1658].
9 But [1161] now [3568], after that ye have known [1097] God [2316], or [1161] rather [3123] are known [1097] of [5259] God [2316], how [4459] turn ye [1994] again [3825] to [1909] the weak [772] and [2532] beggarly [4434] elements [4747], whereunto [3739] ye desire [2309] again [3825] [509] to be in bondage [1398]?
28 There is [1762] neither [3756] Jew [2453] nor [3761] Greek [1672], there is [1762] neither [3756] bond [1401] nor [3761] free [1658], there is [1762] neither [3756] male [730] nor [2532] female [2338]: for [1063] ye [5210] are [2075] all [3956] one [1520] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424].
6 For [1063] in [1722] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] neither [3777] circumcision [4061] availeth [2480] any thing [5100], nor [3777] uncircumcision [203]; but [235] faith [4102] which worketh [1754] by [1223] love [26].
16 As [5613] free [1658], and [2532] not [3361] using [2192] your liberty [1657] for [5613] a cloke [1942] of maliciousness [2549], but [235] as [5613] the servants [1401] of God [2316].
26 And [2532] whether [1535] one [1520] member [3196] suffer [3958], all [3956] the members [3196] suffer with it [4841]; or [1535] one [1520] member [3196] be honoured [1392], all [3956] the members [3196] rejoice with it [4796].
25 That [3363] there should be [5600] no [3363] schism [4978] in [1722] the body [4983]; but [235] that the members [3196] should have [3309] the same [846] care [3309] one for [5228] another [240].
1 Now [1161] as touching [4012] things offered unto idols [1494], we know [1492] that [3754] we all [3956] have [2192] knowledge [1108]. Knowledge [1108] puffeth up [5448], but [1161] charity [26] edifieth [3618].
2 And [1161] if any man [1536] think [1380] that he knoweth [1492] any thing [5100], he knoweth [1097] nothing [3762] yet [3764] as [2531] he ought [1163] to know [1097].
3 But [1161] if any man [1536] love [25] God [2316], the same [3778] is known [1097] of [5259] him [846].
4 As concerning [4012] therefore [3767] the eating [1035] of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols [1494], we know [1492] that [3754] an idol [1497] is nothing [3762] in [1722] the world [2889], and [2532] that [3754] there is none [3762] other [2087] God [2316] but [1508] one [1520].
5 For [1063] though [1512] [2532] there be [1526] that are called [3004] gods [2316], whether [1535] in [1722] heaven [3772] or [1535] in [1909] earth [1093], (as [5618] there be [1526] gods [2316] many [4183], and [2532] lords [2962] many [4183],)
6 But [235] to us [2254] there is but one [1520] God [2316], the Father [3962], of [1537] whom [3739] are all things [3956], and [2532] we [2249] in [1519] him [846]; and [2532] one [1520] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], by [1223] whom [3739] are all things [3956], and [2532] we [2249] by [1223] him [846].
7 Howbeit [235] there is not [3756] in [1722] every man [3956] that knowledge [1108]: for [1161] some [5100] with conscience [4893] of the idol [1497] unto [2193] this hour [737] eat [2068] it as [5613] a thing offered unto an idol [1494]; and [2532] their [846] conscience [4893] being [5607] weak [772] is defiled [3435].
8 But [1161] meat [1033] commendeth [3936] us [2248] not [3756] to God [2316]: for [1063] neither [3777], if [1437] we eat [5315], are we the better [4052]; neither [3777], if [3362] we eat [5315] not [3362], are we the worse [5302].
9 But [1161] take heed [991] lest [3381] by any means [4458] this [3778] liberty [1849] of yours [5216] become [1096] a stumblingblock [4348] to them that are weak [770].
10 For [1063] if [1437] any man [5100] see [1492] thee [4571] which [3588] hast [2192] knowledge [1108] sit at meat [2621] in [1722] the idol's temple [1493], shall [3618] not [3780] the conscience [4893] of him [846] which is [5607] weak [772] be emboldened [3618] [1519] to eat [2068] those things which are offered to idols [1494];
11 And [2532] through [1909] thy [4674] knowledge [1108] shall [622] the weak [770] brother [80] perish [622], for [1223] whom [3739] Christ [5547] died [599]?
12 But [1161] when ye sin [264] so [3779] against [1519] the brethren [80], and [2532] wound [5180] their [846] weak [770] conscience [4893], ye sin [264] against [1519] Christ [5547].
13 Wherefore [1355], if [1487] meat [1033] make [4624] my [3450] brother [80] to offend [4624], I will eat [5315] no [3364] flesh [2907] while the world standeth [1519] [165], lest [3363] I make [4624] my [3450] brother [80] to offend [4624].
5 For [1063] when [3753] we were [2258] in [1722] the flesh [4561], the motions [3804] of sins [266], which [3588] were by [1223] the law [3551], did work [1754] in [1722] our [2257] members [3196] to bring [1519] forth fruit [2592] unto death [2288].
8 But [1161] sin [266], taking [2983] occasion [874] by [1223] the commandment [1785], wrought [2716] in [1722] me [1698] all manner of [3956] concupiscence [1939]. For [1063] without [5565] the law [3551] sin [266] was dead [3498].
7 For [1063] the mystery [3466] of iniquity [458] doth [1754] already [2235] work [1754]: only [3440] he who now [737] letteth [2722] will let, until [2193] he be taken [1096] out of [1537] the way [3319].
27 Only [3440] let your conversation be [4176] as it becometh [516] the gospel [2098] of Christ [5547]: that [2443] whether [1535] I come [2064] and [2532] see [1492] you [5209], or [1535] else be absent [548], I may hear [191] of your [5216] affairs [4012], that [3754] ye stand fast [4739] in [1722] one [1520] spirit [4151], with one [3391] mind [5590] striving together [4866] for the faith [4102] of the gospel [2098];
10 Only [3440] they would that [2443] we should remember [3421] the poor [4434]; the same [846] [5124] which [3739] I [4704] also [2532] was forward [4704] to do [4160].
39 The wife [1135] is bound [1210] by the law [3551] [1909] as long [5550] as [3745] her [846] husband [435] liveth [2198]; but [1161] if [1437] her [846] husband [435] be dead [2837], she is [2076] at liberty [1658] to be married [1060] to whom [3739] she will [2309]; only [3440] in [1722] the Lord [2962].
7 For [1063] God [2316] hath [2564] not [3756] called [2564] us [2248] unto [1909] uncleanness [167], but [235] unto [1722] holiness [38].