Galatians 5:13-18
New English Translation
Practice Love
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters;[a] only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh,[b] but through love serve one another.[c] 14 For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment,[d] namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”[e] 15 However, if you continually bite and devour one another,[f] beware that you are not consumed[g] by one another. 16 But I say, live[h] by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.[i] 17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires[j] that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to[k] each other, so that you cannot do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Galatians 5:13 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.
- Galatians 5:13 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.”
- Galatians 5:13 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).
- Galatians 5:14 tn Or “can be fulfilled in one commandment.”
- Galatians 5:14 sn A quotation from Lev 19:18.
- Galatians 5:15 tn 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…”).
- Galatians 5:15 tn Or “destroyed.”
- Galatians 5:16 tn Grk “walk” (a common NT idiom for how one conducts one’s life or how one behaves).
- Galatians 5:16 tn On the term “flesh” (once in this verse and twice in v. 17) see the note on the same word in Gal 5:13.
- Galatians 5:17 tn The words “has desires” do not occur in the Greek text a second time, but are repeated in the translation for clarity.
- Galatians 5:17 tn Or “are hostile toward” (L&N 39.1).
Galatians 5:13-18
New International Version
Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.(A) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a];(B) rather, serve one another(C) humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b](D) 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit,(E) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.(F) 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.(G) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want.(H) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit,(I) you are not under the law.(J)
Footnotes
- Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.
- Galatians 5:14 Lev. 19:18
- Galatians 5:17 Or you do not do what
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