# So then

"Because what I have just told you is true"

# brothers

Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

# we are debtors, but not to

Paul is speaking of obedience as if it were paying back a debt. Alternate translation: "we need to obey, but not" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# but not to the flesh to live according to the flesh

Again Paul speaks of obedience as if it were paying back a debt. You can include the implied word "debtors." Alternate translation: "but we are not debtors to the flesh, and we do not have to obey our sinful desires" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])