Galatians 5:13
11 Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
12 As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
14 The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
- KJV
- For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
- WEB
- For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
- ASV
- For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only [use] not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.
- DARBY
- For *ye* have been called to liberty, brethren; only [do] not [turn] liberty into an opportunity to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
- BLB
- For you⁺ were called to freedom, brothers, only not the freedom for an opportunity to the flesh. But serve one another through love.
- ÅB
- For dere ble kalt til frihet, brødre; bruk bare ikke friheten til en leilighet for kjødet, men tjen hverandre i kjærlighet!
- OTB
- Dere, mine brødre og søstre, ble kalt til å være fri. Men bruk ikke friheten som en anledning for kjødet; tjen heller hverandre i kjærlighet.
- B1930
- For I blev kalt til frihet, brødre; bruk bare ikke friheten til en leilighet for kjødet, men tjen hverandre i kjærlighet!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Peter 2:16
Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
Read in context1 Corinthians 9:19
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
Read in context1 Corinthians 8:9
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
Read in contextRomans 15:1–2
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Read in contextGalatians 5:14
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Read in contextEphesians 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Read in contextRomans 6:18–22
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Read in contextGalatians 6:2
Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Read in context