Galatians 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 

Isa 61:1; Mr 10:43-45; Lu 4:18; Joh 8:32-36; Joh 13:14,15; Ac 20:35; Ro 6:18-22; Ro 15:1,2; 1Co 8:9; 1Co 9:19; 1Co 13:4-7; 2Co 4:5; 2Co 12:15; Ga 4:5-7,22-31; Ga 5:1; Ga 5:14,22; Ga 6:2; 1Th 1:3; Jas 2:15-17; 1Pe 2:16; 2Pe 2:19; 1Jo 3:16-19; Jude 1:4,10-12

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).