Galatians 5:13 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Only use not liberty— From the mention of liberty, to which St. Paul tells them they are called under the gospel, he takes occasion to caution them respecting the use of it, and so exhorts them to a spiritual or true Christian life; shewing the difference and contrariety between that and a carnal life, or a life after the flesh, Galatians 5:13-26. The word δουλευετε, rendered serve, has a greater force in the Greek than our English word serve expresses, in the common acceptation; for it signifies the opposite to ελευθερια, liberty; and so the Apostle elegantly informs them, that, though by the gospel they are called to a state of liberty from the law, yet they were still as much bound and subjected to their brethren, in all the offices and duties of love and good-will, as if in that respect they were their vassals and bondmen.