Who was Paul telling to serve one another in love in Galatians 5:13?
Paul was writing to the Galatian believers gathered in various congregations. His instruction to serve one another in love applied among believers themselves, not to the unbelieving world. They were to act as bond slaves for one another through love. This reflects Christian liberty used rightly.
Les explains that in Galatians 5:13, Paul is writing to the Galatian believers who are in various congregations. Paul says, "use not liberty or our freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve, or be literally a bond slave for one another." Les points out that Paul is not necessarily talking about how they must work among the unbelieving world, but among themselves—believers with believers. They were to literally be like servants through love one to another. This follows the context of Christian liberty and grace, where believers are not to use liberty as an occasion to the flesh, because true believers know better.
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
More Questions
What does liberty mean in Galatians 5:13?
The word liberty in Galatians 5:13 means freedom; a literal Greek translation uses 'freedom' while the King James Version uses 'liberty'.