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Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Galatians 5:15

Bite and devour] in party strife. Consumed] as respects your personal and collective Christian life.

16-26. The spiritual and the carnal life contrasted.

Paraphrase. '(16) In the life which is fostered by the Spirit you will find your true safety against the evils of which I am warning you. (17) For between the pure aspirations of the Spirit and the sinful impulses of the flesh there is a sharp, irrepressible conflict. (18) If you live under the influence of the Spirit of God, you have no need to seek the guidance of law. (19-20) Contrast the sins which spring from the carnal impulses (21-24) with the virtues which spring from the Spirit's guidance. The former exclude from God's kingdom; the Christian must abjure them; but the latter are not condemned by any law. (25) If, then, we possess the Spirit in our hearts, let our outward action be under His guidance, and (26) let us avoid factious boasting and all attempts to incite others to rivalry and jealousy.'

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See also Galatians 5:15 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 15. _IF YE BITE AND DEVOUR ONE ANOTHER_] These Churches seem to have been in a state of great distraction; there were continual altercations among them. They had fallen from the grace of the Go...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BUT IF YE BITE - The word used here (δάκνω daknō), means, properly, to bite, to sting; and here seems to be used in the sense of contending and striving - a metaphor not improbably taken from dogs a...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. THE WALK OF THE JUSTIFIED BELIEVER, AS NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE CHAPTER 5 _ 1. Stand fast! Be not entangled! (Galatians 5:1)_ 2. Exhortations and the law of love. (Galatians 5:7) 3....

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GALATIANS 5:13 TO GALATIANS 6:10. Practical appendix to the epistle; in the form of guarding the doctrine of free grace against antinomian abuse....

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    First safeguard. They are free indeed, and as Christians are done with Law; but love will save them from indulging lower impulses. Love (as Jesus taught, Mark 12:31 and parallels) includes everything...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    As for you, brothers, it was for freedom that you were called, only you must not use this freedom as a bridgehead through which the worst side of human nature can invade you, but in love you must serv...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    AN OLD STORY AND A NEW MEANING (Galatians 4:21-31 ; Galatians 5:1) 5:1 Tell me this--you who want to be subject to the law, you listen to it being read to you, don't you? Well, then, it stands writte...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BITE. Greek. _dakno_. Only here. DEVOUR. Greek. _katesthio_. See 2 Corinthians 11:20. TAKE HEED. Greek. _blepo_. App-133. THAT... NOT = lest. Greek. _me_. App-105. CONSUMED. Greek. _analisko_, Only...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    To _bite_and to _devour_is to act like wild beasts. The words are of course used figuratively to denote attacks made under the influence of evil passions, and especially through the rancour of party s...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    13–15. _I say, you were called for freedom. But do not forget that true freedom implies service to others_ (Galatians 5:13) I speak so strongly about those that are confounding you, for _you_ were cal...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    13–6:10. PRACTICAL. LIBERTY IS NOT LICENSE BUT SERVICE; NOT THE FLESH BUT THE SPIRIT MUST BE THE AIM OF THE BELIEVER...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΕἸ ΔῈ�[141] ΚΑῚ ΚΑΤΕΣΘΊΕΤΕ. A glimpse of the strife engendered through the false teaching. You are like beasts or. dogs when being fed. [141] Is affixed to a word it means that all the passages are m...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΔΆΚΝΕΤΕ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΔΆΚΝΩ (G1143) кусать, ΚΑΤΕΣΘΊΕΤΕ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΚΑΤΕΣΘΊΩ (G2719) съедать. Оба гл. в настоящем времени конативны, выражают попытку (Burton); формы индикатива испол...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    B. LIMITATIONS AND POWER OF FREEDOM Galatians 5:13-26 1. No fleshly License Galatians 5:13-15 TEXT 5:13-15 (13) For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    _ VERSE 15. BUT IF YE BITE AND DEVOUR ONE ANOTHER TAKE HEED THAT YE BE NOT CONSUMED ONE OF ANOTHER._...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. BITE - backbite the character. DEVOUR - the substance, by extortion, etc. (; ; .) Bite, the act o...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 This paragraph is the summary and conclusion of the doctrinal argument. Tersely, he puts the case. Which shall it be _ Christ _ or _ circumcision_!' No half hearted allegiance here, no serving of tw...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    The false teachers had caused trouble in Galatia. As a result, the Christians were fighting and arguing with each other. The word ‘hurt’ means to bite. It also means to speak in a way that hurts a per...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

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  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (13-15) The Judaisers would deserve such a fate; for they are undoing the whole object with which you were called. You were called, not to legal bondage, but to _freedom._ This caution only is needed:...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 22 THE PERILS OF LIBERTY. Galatians 5:13 OUR analysis has drawn a strong line across the middle of this chapter. At Galatians 5:13 the Apostle turns his mind in the ethical direction. He has...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    FREEDOM IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF CHRISTIAN LIFE, TO BE USED NOT FOR SELF-INDULGENCE, BUT FOR WILLING SERVICE TO THE LAW OF LOVE....

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    If the spirit of mutual love does not prevent Christian brethren from preying on one another, they are in danger of utter destruction....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    PRODUCE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:13 That Christ has freed us from the Law as a means of salvation does not free us from moral restraint, but brings us under the constraint of a higher law,...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The whole law of liberty is stated in the sentences, "For freedom did Christ set us free," "stand fast therefore," and "be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage." He then refers first to circumcis...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (14) But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (14) An exhortation to the duties of charity, by the profit that follows from it, because no men proved w...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (6) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (7) Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? (8) This...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Galatians 1:1-24. We saw the second of Corinthians characterized by the most rapid transitions of feeling, by a deep and fervent sense of God's consolations, by a revulsion so much the more powerful i...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    15._But if ye bite and devour one another_. From the nature of the subject, as well as from the language employed, we may conjecture that the Galatians had disputes among themselves; for they differed...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    It is in this liberty, the liberty of Christ, alluding to the free woman and Jerusalem above, that they were to stand fast, and not put themselves again under the yoke of the law. If they took that gr...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BUT IF YE BITE AND DEVOUR ONE ANOTHER,.... Another reason inducing to love is taken from the pernicious consequences of a contrary spirit and conduct. The allusion is to beasts of prey falling upon an...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Ver. 15. _But if ye bite, &c._] _Si collidimnr, frangimur, _ If we clash, we break. Dissolution is the daughte...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Ye have been called_ By the gospel; _into liberty_ From the bondage of the Mosaic ceremonies, as well as of sin and misery: _only use not liberty for an occasion of the flesh_ So as to nourish or gra...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    IF YE BITE AND DEVOUR; contend with and injure one another....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The service of love as opposed to the service of the flesh:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    BUT IF YE BITE AND DEVOUR ONE ANOTHER, TAKE HEED THAT YE BE NOT CONSUMED ONE OF ANOTHER. Paul here finds it necessary to deny a charge of the false teachers that he himself was still preaching circumc...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    LIBERTY TO BE PRACTICED (vs.1-6) Chapter 4 dealt with the perfect freedom introduced by God Himself through Christ, freedom given to all who have been redeemed by His precious blood, freedom from the...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    I COULD WISH THAT THOSE WHO TROUBLE YOU WOULD EVEN CUT THEMSELVES OFF! Judiazing teachers should be cut off. Romans 16:17 - "Mark them" 2 Timothy 3:5 - "turn away" Titus 1:10-11 - "mouths stopped...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    13-15 The gospel is a doctrine according to godliness, 1 Timothy 6:3, and is so far from giving the least countenance to sin, that it lays us under the strongest obligation to avoid and subdue it. Th...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    This lets us know, that there were great contentions and divisions amongst the members of this church, whether (which is probable) occasioned by their differences in and about the doctrine of justific...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. [Do not think because you are free that you are therefore free to do evil. As a contrast to the spirit of liber...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Cyprian Epistle VI From abuse and revilings also I entreat you to abstain, for "revilers do not attain the kingdom of God; "[20]...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Galatians 5:15 But G1161 if G1487 bite G1143 (G5719) and G2532 devour G2719 (G5719) another G240 beware...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    FREEDOM IS NOT TO BE MISINTERPRETED AS LICENCE. THEY MUST WALK IN LOVE AND BY THE SPIRIT (GALATIANS 5:13). Paul now goes on to deal with the charge that the Gospel he is presenting gives men licence t...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you are not consumed one by another.' On the other hand, if we bite and devour each other by what we say and do, and there appears to be a hint...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _Warning' against the Abuse of Freedom, and Exhortation to Brotherly Love._ In the spirit of true Christian wisdom and moderation, the Apostle now warns the readers against the danger of abusing Chri...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Galatians 5:15. BUT IF YE BITE AND DEVOUR ONE ANOTHER, like wild beasts. How applicable this to all sectarian and partisan strifes which turn the church into a battle-field and impair its force agains...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    IF YE BITE AND DEVOUR ONE ANOTHER (ε αλληλους δακνετε κα κατεσθιετε). Condition of first class assumed as true. Two common and old verbs often used together of wild animals, or like cats and dogs.T...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    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._ Do not turn your liberty into license. The apostle...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 5:1. _Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage._ «You are not under the law, but under grace. Do not subje...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 5:1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ had made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Chris...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Remember, beloved brethren, that the Epistle to the Galatians is one in which Paul, with especial clearness, proves the doctrine of justification by faith alone. So much is this the case, that the fam...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Liberty of the believer in Christ, apart from the law. Conflict of flesh and the Spirit. Christian character the result of the Spirit's work not self-effort. CHARACTERS: Christ, Holy Spirit...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Galatians 5:1. _Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,_ by the redemption he has procured through the shedding of his own most precious blood. The liberty of your cele...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    BUT IF YOU ACT LIKE ANIMALS. "But if, in _your frantic action_ either for or against The Law, you begin to act like animals, hurting and harming one another as you bite and devour each other, _watch o...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another._ UNCHARITABLE CONTENTIONS IN THE CHURCH OF GOD I. There ever were, are, and will be, differences among God’s...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 5 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. S. Paul proceeds to urge the Galatians not to submit to the yoke of the Old Law, lest they be deprived of the fruits of Christ's righteousness, since in Him neit...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _But_ _if ye bite and devour one another._ Beware, if you attack one another with calumnies, lest you be mutually consumed. Two men calumniating and enviously pursuing each other are like two dogs fig...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Galatians 5:13. USE NOT LIBERTY FOR AN OCCASION TO THE FLESH.—Do not give the flesh the handle or pretext for its indulgence, which it eagerly seeks for. BY LOVE SERV...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GALATIANS 5:1 GALATIANS 5:2 BEHOLD, I PAUL SAY UNTO YOU (ἴδε, ἐγὼ Παῦλος λώγω ὑμῖν); _lo_,_ I Paul say unto you. _The adverbial exclamation ἴδε, found in St. Paul's writings on...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn now to Galatians chapter five. The whole concept is: how do I establish a righteous standing before God? Can I be righteous by keeping the law? Or am I righteous by my simple faith in Je...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 6:6; 2 Corinthians 11:20; 2 Corinthians 12:20;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Bite and devour [δ α κ ν ε τ ε κ α ι κ α τ ε σ θ ι ε τ ε]. Strong expressions of partisan hatred exerting itself for mutual injury. Daknein to bite, N. T. o. In LXX metaphorically, Micah 3:5; Habakkuk...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Much is written about the Holy Spirit in the Word of God. The Epistles of Paul are freighted with many marvelous messages relative to the Sp...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE GRACES OF THE SPIRIT'S INDWELLING Galatians 5:14 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. The works of the flesh are manifest. It is not necessary for anyone to draw upon his imagination to describe the works of...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    But if — On the contrary, in consequence of the divisions which those troublers have occasioned among you, ye bite one another by evil speaking. And devour one another — By railing and clamour. Take h...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    The apostle, to enforce the foregoing exhortation to mutual love, urges here the dangerous effects which their animosities and strifes, with their controversies and contentions, would most certainly p...

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