Galatians 5:15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 5:13-26

In the latter part of this chapter the apostle comes to exhort these Christians to serious practical godliness, as the best antidote against the snares of the false teachers. Two things especially he presses upon them:? I. That they should not strive with one another, but love one another. He tells them (Gal. 5:13) that they had been called unto liberty, and he would have them to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free; but yet he would have them be very careful that they... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 5:13-15

5:13-15 As for you, brothers, it was for freedom that you were called, only you must not use this freedom as a bridgehead through which the worst side of human nature can invade you, but in love you must serve one another; for the whole law stands complete in one word, in the sentence, "You must love your neighbour as yourself." But if you snap at one another, and devour one another, you must watch that you do not end up by wiping each other out. With this paragraph Paul's letter changes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:15

But if ye bite and devour one another ,.... Another reason inducing to love is taken from the pernicious consequences of a contrary spirit and conduct. The allusion is to beasts of prey falling upon and devouring one another: for wolves or dogs to worry sheep is not strange; but for sheep to distress one another is unnatural. The apostle does not say, if grievous wolves should enter in among you and not spare the flock; but suggests if they themselves should act the part of wolves to one... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:15

If ye bite and devour one another - These Churches seem to have been in a state of great distraction; there were continual altercations among them. They had fallen from the grace of the Gospel; and, as Christ no longer dwelt in their hearts by faith, pride, anger, ill-will, and all unkind and uncharitable tempers, took possession of their souls, and they were in consequence alternately destroying each other. Nothing is so destructive to the peace of man, and to the peace of the soul, as... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:15

Verse 15 15.But if ye bite and devour one another. From the nature of the subject, as well as from the language employed, we may conjecture that the Galatians had disputes among themselves; for they differed about doctrine. The apostle now demonstrates, from the result, how destructive such proceedings in the church must ultimately prove to be. False doctrine was probably a judgment from heaven upon their ambition, pride, and other offenses. This may be concluded from what frequently happens in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13-15

The liberty of love. Having shown the magnificence of the gospel system, Paul now proceeds to define that freedom which it secures. It is not licence, but love, which it induces; and love not only fulfils the Law, as legalism does not, but also prevents the bitter strife which legalism ensures. We have the following points suggested:— I. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN LICENCE AND LIBERTY . ( Galatians 5:13 .) The grace which has freed us from the legal spirit has not endowed us... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13-15

Liberty and not licence. I. THE DANGER . St. Paul was no antinomian. No Hebrew prophet ever insisted more strenuously on the necessity of righteousness than did the champion of justification by faith. With him freedom from the bondage of Law is not release from the obligations of duty. If tedious ceremonial observances are discarded, eternal principles of morality are only exalted into the higher supremacy. If we are not required to shape our conduct according to rigid rules, we are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13-26

Freedom sustained by the Spirit. I. USE OF CHRISTIAN FREEDOM . "For ye, brethren, were called for freedom." Paul, having wished the Judaizing teachers off Galatian soil, justifies the strength of his wish. They would have led the Galatians into bondage, but God had called them for freedom. He makes a distinction between the possession of freedom and the use of freedom. He had been under the necessity of making prominent their possession of freedom in contending against the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:15

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another ( εἰ δὲ ἀλλήλους δάκνετε καὶ κατεσθίετε βλέπετε μὴ ὑπὸ ἀλλήλων ἀναλωθῆτε ); but if ye be biting and eating up one another , take heed that ye be not one of another utterly destroyed. "Biting" and "eating up" are images drawn from carnivorous animals furiously fighting with each other. The verb κατεσθίεν , eat up, which in 2 Corinthians 11:20 and Matthew 23:1-39 . 14 is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:15

The evil effects of heresy. "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." I. HERESY GENDERS BITTER DISPUTES . The presence of the Judaists would naturally cause constant strife, whether they succeeded or whether they failed, for the Galatians would take sides, and be thus launched into endless debate. The strifes, of which Church history is so full, are not due to the truth, but to the efforts of errorists to debase it or to destroy... read more

Group of Brands