A Remedy for Disunity
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Introduction
Introduction
The unity of the church is a two-fold unity:
Holy Spirit
20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Word of God
5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Especially Ephesians 4:11-16
Body
Body
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
This is possibly the whole reason for the letter.
Their factious and fleshly behavior may have reached Paul and he writes in response to their behavior.
“Bite” = actions of a wild animal.
“Bite” = actions of a wild animal.
The wild animals are the people of the party of the circumcision.
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;
Their actions are for biting and attacking.
They seize prey.
They harm prey.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Galatians 5:15
15 But if you abite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
Galatians 5:15 (UBS5)
15
εἰ conditional if
If this condition happens…be careful that another condition doesn’t happen.
δὲ conj but
ἀλλήλους mplacc one another
δάκνετε 2pl paind you bite
δάκνω bite; literally, of animals and reptiles; figuratively, as acting spitefully or injuriously toward others cause harm to (GA 5:15)1
1 Timothy Friberg, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller, Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, Baker’s Greek New Testament Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 103.
καὶ conj and
κατεσθίετε, 2pl paind you devour/consume
βλέπετε 2pl paind you see/you beware/be one guard
μὴ negation not
ὑπʼ prep upon
ἀλλήλων mplgen of one another
ἀναλωθῆτε.2pl ppassind you be consumed
ἀναλίσκω and ἀναλόω fut. ἀναλώσω; 1aor. ἀνήλωσα; 1aor. pass. ἀνηλώθην; {{ἀνά, ἁλίσκομαι}} transitive, accusative object; (1) use up; of fire consume, burn up (LU 9:54); (2) figuratively; (a) of annihilation of enemies destroy (2TH 2:8BYZ); (b) of the effects of strife within a group ruin, destroy (GA 5:15)1
1 Timothy Friberg, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller, Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, Baker’s Greek New Testament Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 50–51.
“devour” = eat thoroughly.
“devour” = eat thoroughly.
Galatians 5:15
If ye bite and devour one another (εἰ ἀλληλους δακνετε και κατεσθιετε [ei allēlous daknete kai katesthiete]). Condition of first class assumed as true. Two common and old verbs often used together of wild animals, or like cats and dogs. That ye be not consumed one of another (μη ὑπʼ ἀλληλων ἀναλωθητε [mē hup’ allēlōn analōthēte]). Negative final clause with first aorist passive subjunctive of ἀναλισκω [analiskō], old word to consume or spend. In N. T. only here and Luke 9:54. There is a famous story of two snakes that grabbed each other by the tail and each swallowed the other.1
1 A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Ga 5:15.
5:15 This verse is a window into the congregations of Galatia. In contrast to the law of selfless love, which Paul has just commended, they were engaged in a fierce, internecine struggle, the result of which could have led to the very dissolution of their communities of faith. All three verbs Paul used to describe their unholy uncivil war on one another—biting, devouring, being destroyed—were bywords commonly used in Hellenistic Greek to suggest wild animals engaged in deadly struggle. The translation of the NEB suggests a catfight: “But if you go on fighting one another, tooth and nail, all you can expect is mutual destruction.”
Obviously Paul was writing to churches caught in a serious theological conflict over the doctrines of the false teachers. It is possible that some of these churches may have divided into Paul-, James-, and Peter-parties much as the Corinthians did later. If that is true, it is worth noting that Paul, who had argued throughout the letter passionately and indignantly for the truth of the gospel, did not here promote the victory of his own partisan group. Paul spoke as a pastor to all of the believers in Galatia, warning them against continuing strife and mutual destruction. More likely, however, the intrusion of the Judaizers exacerbated an underlying conflict that was already present among these Christians. It is the works of the flesh that Paul would shortly enumerate, among which are dissensions and factions, that had produced the fractured fellowship and broken unity Paul here lamented.1
1 Timothy George, Galatians, vol. 30, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 384–385.
15. βλέπετε κ.τ.λ.] A sort of parenthetic warning; ‘The contest will not end in a victory to either party, such as you crave. It will lead to the common extinction of both.’ St Paul returns to his main subject again in ver. 16. See the introduction, p. 33, note 3.1
1 Joseph Barber Lightfoot, ed., St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. A Revised Text with Introduction, Notes, and Dissertations., 4th ed., Classic Commentaries on the Greek New Testament (London: Macmillan and Co., 1874), 209.
“Consume” = be completely annihilated by the act of biting and devouring.
“Consume” = be completely annihilated by the act of biting and devouring.
54 When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. 7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. 11 Prescribe and teach these things.
14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,