Galatians 5:15 - Exposition

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 applied to the eating up of a neighbour's goods, is here employed in its more literal sense, in order to furnish a figure describing that intense desire to vex and damage an antagonist, which but too often disgraces the so-called religious controversialist or partisan. The verb ἀναλίσκω , utterly destroy, occurs besides only in Luke 9:54 and 2 Thessalonians 2:8 , of destruction by fire or lightning; so the compound κατανάλισκον , Hebrews 12:29 . It points to another sphere of hurt than that referred to in the two foregoing verbs; for while these latter describe the eager endeavour to sting and "run down" a theological opponent, the former describes the utter laying waste of the inward life of piety. The orthodox opinion may survive, and perhaps be even made clearer and more accurate; but the kernel of filial love and joy in God, and of love towards our brethren, may by the φιλονεικία , the bitter antagonism, of controversy have got to be altogether eaten out. A Christian disciple who has ceased to love, Christ teaches us, is salt which has lost its savour—utterly refuse and hopeless of recovery ( Mark 9:50 ).