Galatians 5:13 Application for Couples
Galatians 5:13 (KJV) states, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" [1]. This verse is a pivotal exhortation within Paul's letter to the Galatians, urging believers to understand and apply their freedom in Christ not as license for self-indulgence, but as an impetus for loving service.
The broader context of Galatians 5 addresses the tension between Christian liberty and legalism. Paul has spent much of the letter arguing against those who insisted that Gentile converts must adhere to the Mosaic Law, particularly circumcision, to be truly saved. Having established that believers are freed from the curse of the law through Christ [2], he then warns against misinterpreting this freedom. The "liberty" mentioned is freedom from the Mosaic yoke, from sin, and from slavish fear [5]. However, this liberty is not to become an "occasion to the flesh," meaning a pretext or handle for indulging sinful desires [5].
Instead, this freedom is to be channeled into active love and service toward one another. The phrase "by love serve one another" highlights the positive obligation that accompanies Christian liberty. This concept of loving service is central to the "law of Christ," which involves carrying each other's burdens [3]. Indeed, the theme of freedom in the Spirit compelling believers to do good to others in love forms an inclusio, or bookend, for the entire section from Galatians 5:13 to 6:10 [4]. The opposite of this love is characterized by strife and bitterness, which can lead to mutual destruction [7].
While Galatians 5:13 is not specifically addressed to married couples, its principles are broadly applicable to all interpersonal relationships, including those within marriage. The call to "by love serve one another" directly counters self-centeredness, which can be a source of conflict in any close relationship. Augustine, in discussing the marriage of Mary and Joseph, emphasized the "entire good of the nuptial institution" as encompassing offspring, faithfulness, and the bond, with fidelity meaning "no adultery" and the bond meaning "no divorce" [6]. While not directly quoting Galatians 5:13, Augustine's emphasis on faithfulness and the marital bond aligns with the spirit of mutual commitment and service. Similarly, Aquinas discusses the lawfulness of divorce in cases of fornication, noting that the faithful party is not bound to marital intercourse with the unfaithful one, which implies a breakdown of the mutual service and fidelity expected in marriage [8].
The verse functions as a practical guide for living out Christian freedom. It underscores that true liberty in Christ leads not to isolation or self-gratification, but to a community characterized by mutual love and service, a principle that extends to the most intimate of human bonds.
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] Galatians 5:13 — For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Galatians 3:13 cross-references: Deuteronomy 21:23, Joshua 10:26, 2 Samuel 17:23, 2 Samuel 18:10, 2 Samuel 18:14, 2 Samuel 21:3, 2 Samuel 21:9, 2 Kings 22:19, Esther 7:10, Esther 9:14, Isaiah 55:5, Isaiah 55:10, Jeremiah 44:22, Jeremiah 49:13, Daniel 9:24, Daniel 9:26, Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 26:28, Matthew 27:5, Acts 5:30, Romans 3:24, Romans 4:25, Romans 8:3, Romans 9:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:10, Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 5:2, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 7:26, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:26, Hebrews 9:28, Hebrews 10:4, 1 Peter 1:18, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 2:1, 1 John 4”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 6:2: 6:2 Carrying each other’s burdens (6:1) fulfills the law of Christ to love one another (5:13-14; see also Lev 19:18; Matt 22:36-40; John 13:34; 15:12; 1 Jn 3:23).”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 6:10: 6:10 Therefore: This statement forms an inclusio (bookends) for the section (5:13–6:10) by stating the same theme as 5:13: Freedom in the Spirit compels us to do good to others in love. • Doing good to those in the family of faith demonstrates God’s faithfulness to his children: He provides for all their needs.”
- Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 5:13: The "ye" is emphatical, from its position in the Greek, "Ye brethren"; as opposed to those legalists "who trouble you." unto liberty--The Greek expresses, "on a footing of liberty." The state or condition in which ye have been called to salvation, is one of liberty. Gospel liberty consists in three things, freedom from the Mosaic yoke, from sin, and from slavish fear. only, &c.--Translate, "Only turn not your liberty into an occasion for the flesh." Do not give the flesh the handle or pretext (Rom 7:8, "occasion") for its indulgence which it eag”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 13.--IN THE MARRIAGE OF MARY AND JOSEPH THERE WERE ALL THE BLESSINGS OF THE WEDDED STATE; ALL THAT IS BORN OF CONCUBINAGE IS SINFUL FLESH.: The entire good, therefore, of the nuptial institution was effected in the case of these parents of Christ: there was offspring, there was faithfulness, there was the bond.[11] As offspring, we recognise the Lord Jesus Himself; the fidelity, in that there was no adultery; the bond,[11] because there was no divorce. [XII.] Only there was no nuptial cohabitation; because He who was to be without sin, and was sen”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 5:15: 5:15 The opposite of love is biting and devouring one another (cp. Ps 35:25; Prov 30:14; Jer 8:17). People who do not love are characterized by strife and bitterness. They will end up destroying one another. By contrast, love gives life to others (John 3:16; 15:12-13).”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Supplement (Supplementum), Of the Impediment That Supervenes to Marriage after Its Consummation, Namely Fornication, Art. 1: Article: Whether it is lawful for a husband to put away his wife on account of fornication? I answer that, Our Lord permitted a man to put away his wife on account of fornication, in punishment of the unfaithful party and in favor of the faithful party, so that the latter is not bound to marital intercourse with the unfaithful one. There are however seven cases to be excepted in which it is not lawful to put away a wife who has committed fornic”