Gal 5:13-14 | RWP | e4.org | Ye were called for freedom ( επ' ελευθερια εκληθητε ). The same point as in made plainer by the use of επ' (on the basis of, for the purpose of). See for this use of επ . Only use not ( μονον μη ). No word for "use" in the Greek. Probably supply τρεπετε or στρεφετε , "turn not your liberty into an occasion for the flesh" ( εις αφορμην τη σαρκ ), as a spring board for license. On αφορμη , see on . Liberty so easily turns to license.

‏ Galatians 5:13-14

Ye were called for freedom ( επ' ελευθερια εκληθητε ). The same point as in 5:1 made plainer by the use of επ' (on the basis of, for the purpose of). See 1Th 4:7 for this use of επ.

Only use not ( μονον μη ). No word for "use" in the Greek. Probably supply τρεπετε or στρεφετε, "turn not your liberty into an occasion for the flesh" ( εις αφορμην τη σαρκ ), as a spring board for license. On αφορμη, see on 2Co 5:12. Liberty so easily turns to license.

Even in this ( εν τω ). Just the article with εν, "in the," but it points at the quotation from Le 19:18. Jews (Lu 10:29) confined "neighbour" ( πλησιον ) to Jews. Paul uses here a striking paradox by urging obedience to the law against which he has been arguing, but this is the moral law as proof of the new love and life. See also Ro 13:8, precisely as Jesus did (Mt 22:40).