Commentary on Galatians 5:13-15

LIBERATION FROM THE LAW DOES NOT FREE ONE FROM THE OBLIGATION OF CHARITY

A Summary of Galatians 5:13-15~The Galatians were called to freedom, but they must not abuse their happy state. Rather, let them seek that higher servitude which consists in serving one another; for charity is the fulfillment of the Law.


Gal 5:13. For you, brethren, have been called unto liberty : only make not liberty an occasion to the flesh, but by charity of the spirit serve one another.

St. Paul in this verse wishes to define the liberty which Christ has purchased for us and which is referred to in 5:1.

Unto liberty, i.e., freedom from the ceremonial observances of the Mosaic Law, as well as the temporal penalties by which that Law gave sanction to its moral precepts. The Galatians, like all Christians, were called to Christianity that they might live in freedom; but they must not make their liberty an occasion or pretext to indulge the flesh, i.e., the lower tendencies and instincts of corrupt human nature (cf. Rom 8:4 ff.), always disposed to satisfy itself in self-seeking and egoism. To such a spirit the Apostle opposes charity, and tells his readers to be servants (δουλευετε) one of another.

The words of the spirit (Vulg., Spiritus) are not found in the best MSS. They are doubtless a gloss added to the text to make it clear that the charity in question is the supernatural virtue by which we love God first, and our neighbor for God’s sake.

Gal 5:14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word : Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

All the law, i.e., the whole Law with all its precepts. The Galatians were anxious to receive circumcision in order to fulfil the Law, but charity fulfils every law, human and divine. The moral life is regulated by the Decalogue, and the Decalogue is summed up in the love of one’s neighbor. St. Paul here, as in Rom 13:8-10, is presupposing the love of God as the foundation of the whole Christian life.

Gal 5:15. But if you bite and devour one another: take heed you be not consumed one of another.

St. Paul warns the Galatians that if, like wild beasts, they bite and tear one another asunder, they will completely ruin their Christian community. He refers to their religious disputes and dissensions which seem to have engendered real hatred among them. Perhaps the Apostle is referring to disorders which will develop, if they do not be careful to check beginnings, although St. Chrysostom thinks he is speaking of conditions actually existing at the time.