Galatians 6
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gal 6:1-5 1Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5For each one will bear his own load.
Gal 6:1 "if" This introduces a third class conditional sentence meaning potential, probable action.
▣ "if anyone is caught" This is an aorist passive subjunctive. Literally "surprised" (cf. William D. Mounce's The Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament, p. 393). The phrase points to our own responsibility for our sin but also of sin's subtle temptations and traps (cf. Eph 4:14 ; Eph 6:10-18 ). Some people did not premeditatively violate God's grace; they were duped.
NASB, NKJV "in any trespass"
NRSV "in a transgression"
TEV "in any kind of wrongdoing"
NJB "misbehaves"
At least three sins may be referred to here.
1. light of the false teachers, this may refer to those who had succumbed to the temptation of being circumcised and were trying to gain perfection through the Mosaic Law
2. because of the strong terms used in Gal 5:15 ; Gal 5:26 , it may refer to the destructive tendencies which were present in the Galatian churches
3. this might be related to the pagan worship excesses described in Gal 5:19-21 The guidelines which follow are extremely helpful to show the church how believers are to restore a fallen brother to fellowship.
NASB, TEV "you who are spiritual"
NKJV "you who are spiritual"
NRSV "you who have received the Spirit"
NJB "the more spiritual of you"
This should not be misconstrued to mean "you who are sinless." Spiritual maturity has already been discussed in Gal 5:16-18 ; Gal 5:22-25 . Spiritual maturity is
1. having the mind of Christ
2. living out the fruit of the Spirit
3. having a servant's heart
4. serving fellow Christians
See SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGING (SHOULD CHRISTIANS JUDGE ONE ANOTHER?) <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/judge.html> at 1Th 5:21 .
▣ "restore such a one" "Restore" is a present active imperative, an ongoing command, often used of setting a broken bone or fixing fishing nets (cf. Mat 4:21 ; Mar 1:19 ). It is crucial for those who are mature in Christ to help all others in the church to attain that stature (cf. Eph 4:13 ) and restore those who have fallen (cf. 2Co 13:11 ).
Forgiveness and non-judgmentalism are biblical signs of a mature Christian (cf. Mat 5:7 ; Mat 6:14-15 ; Mat 18:35 ; Luk 6:36-37 ; Jas 2:13 ; Jas 5:9 ). Church discipline must always be redemptive not vindictive (cf. 2Co 2:7 ; 2Th 3:15 ; Jas 5:19-20 ). We dare not shoot our wounded!
▣ "looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted" "Tempt" [peirazô] in this context has the connotation "to tempt with a view toward destruction." The same word is used of the evil one tempting Jesus in Matthew 4. Another word for "tempt" [dokimazô] is used twice in Gal 6:4 , but this word has the connotation "to test with a view toward approval." Satan will test and tempt believers in order to destroy them. Believers must be on guard, without and within (cf. 1Co 10:12 ; 2Co 13:5 ). See Special Topic at 1Th 3:5 .
Gal 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens" This is a present active imperative. "One another" is placed in an emphatic position in the Greek sentence. As a way of life mature Christians are to carry their weaker, less mature brothers (cf. Rom 14:1 ; Rom 15:1 ). This fulfills, in a very practical and observable way, the New Law (cf. Gal 5:14 ).
"Burden" was used of a crushing weight put on a domestic pack animal (cf. Mat 23:4 ). In context it was used metaphorically for the oral traditions of the Judaizers. It is a different term than "burden" in Gal 6:5 , a soldier's backpack.
▣ "and thereby fulfill the law of Christ" The Law of Christ is also mentioned in 1Co 9:21 and "the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ" in Rom 8:2 . The Law of Christ is also characterized in different ways in James.
1. Jas 1:25 , "the flawless law that makes men free"
2. Jas 2:8 , "the royal law"
3. Jas 2:12 , "the law of liberty"
As the yoke of the oral traditions interpreting the Mosaic Law had become a pressing burden to the Jews, the yoke of Christ is easy and light (cf. Mat 11:29-30 ). However, a yoke it is (cf. Joh 13:34 ; 1Jn 4:21 ), and this yoke is our responsibility to love and serve one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
The verb "fulfill" used here is found in two different tenses in the manuscripts.
1. aorist imperative in MSS א, A, C, D
2. future active indicative in MSS B, F, G
3. future active indicative, but with different initial preposition in MS P46
The UBS4 committee was uncertain which was original. They thought possibly that the future was changed to an aorist imperative because of the preceding infinitive in Gal 6:1 (Bruce Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament).
Gal 6:3 "if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing" This is a first class conditional sentence, assumed true from the author's perspective or for the author's literary purposes. Christians should judge themselves so that they can appropriately relate to each other and can avoid overestimating themselves (cf. 1Co 3:18 , possibly reflecting Isa 5:2 ). This does not mean that Christians do not have sin, but that sin does not dominate their lives (cf. 1Jn 1:8 ; 1Jn 3:6 ; 1Jn 3:9 ). Therefore, they can help and pray for those whose lives are dominated by sin (cf. 1Co 3:18 ).
▣ "he deceives himself" This verb occurs only once in the entire NT, meaning to seduce oneself into error. The noun form appears in Tit 1:10 . Self-deception is the worst kind of blindness.
Gal 6:4 "But each one must examine his own work" This is a present active imperative of the term for "test" or "tempt" (dokimazô) with the connotation of "to test with a view toward approval." See Special Topic at 1Th 3:5 .
▣ "and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another" Believers must be careful not to compare themselves with one another (cf. 2Co 10:12 ), especially those who have been surprised and overtaken by sin (cf. Gal 6:1 ).
SPECIAL TOPIC: BOASTING <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/boasting.html>
Gal 6:5 "For each one will bear his own load" This may refer to the judgment seat of Christ in an eschatological/end-time setting (cf. 2Co 5:10 ). At first glance, Gal 6:2 ; Gal 6:5 seemingly contradict each other until a closer lexical study shows that the two words translated respectively as "burden" and "load" had different usages. The former word in Gal 6:2 (baros) means a "crushing weight," while the latter word in Gal 6:5 (phortion) means a "soldier's backpack filled with his needed equipment." Mature Christians must carry the load of responsibility for themselves and sometimes, for others. An example of this might be 2Co 8:13-14 . The same term was used of Jesus' guidelines for Christians in Mat 11:30 .
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gal 6:6-10 6The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Gal 6:6 "the word" This is from the same root as "Word" in Joh 1:1 , referring to Jesus. The "word" is the gospel of and about Jesus. Paul uses a variety of ways to refer to this "word."
1. "the word of God" – 1Co 14:36 ; 2Co 2:17 ; 2Co 4:2 ; Php 1:14 ; Col 3:16 ; 1Th 2:13 2. "the word of the Lord" – 1Th 1:8 ; 2Th 3:1 3. the word – Gal 6:6 ; 1Th 1:6 ; Col 4:3 ; 2Ti 4:2
▣ "is to share" This is another present active imperative which relates either to
1. Gal 6:1-5 , a call on the mature to help weaker Christians
2. Gal 6:7-10 , a description of the law of spiritual sowing and reaping (see note at Gal 6:7 )
Those who are taught are under the spiritual responsibility to share in the ministry of those who teach them (cf. Luk 10:7 ; Rom 15:27 ; 1Co 9:9-14 ). This is a general principle, and although Paul did not personally take advantage of personal remuneration, he advocated it for other ministers. The English word "catechism" is derived from the Greek [katechçô] translated as "taught" and "teaches" which are found in this verse.
▣ "good things" "Good things" is purposefully ambiguous, referring to physical needs, spiritual needs or both. The obvious truth is that those who are being taught should be grateful and responsive. Exactly how this verse relates to the false teachers is uncertain. Paul could have been referring to himself and the Gentile contribution for Jerusalem.
▣ "with the one who teaches him" The teacher ("the one who teaches") refers either to
1. the spiritual gift of teaching as in Act 13:1 and 1Co 12:28 2. a teacher in the local congregation who trained new believers and children
3. one who taught the entire congregation the implications of the teachings of the Apostles as they applied to their daily lives, as in pastor/teacher of Eph 4:11 This last option would be similar to the OT task of the local Levites and, later, professional scribes.
Gal 6:7 "Do not be deceived" This is a present passive imperative with a negative particle which usually means to stop an act which was already in process. They were already being deceived (cf. 1Co 6:9 ; 1Co 15:33 ; 2Th 2:3 ; Jas 1:16 ).
▣ "God is not mocked" This verb means "to turn one's nose up at" something or someone. This may refer to those who are called to minister as God's representatives, that is, the teachers of Gal 6:6 . To scoff at Christian ministers is, in a sense, to scoff at God. Jesus, in Mat 10:42 ; Mat 25:40 , mentioned that when we help others in His name we are helping Him. This is the same truth but from the opposite direction. However, how these verses relate to one another is uncertain. This may be a general proverb connected with "sowing and reaping" applied in a figurative sense.
This verse may relate to Gal 6:8-10 and not to Gal 6:6 at all. This is a moral universe. We do not so much break God's laws as much as we break ourselves on God's laws. Be it known, believer or unbeliever, we reap what we sow. Sin always runs its course, even in the life of believers. Wild oats are very, very expensive—so, too, is self-centered sowing!
▣ "for whatever a man sows" This is a spiritual principle. God is ethical-moral and so is His creation. Humans break themselves on God's standards. We reap what we sow. This is true for believers (but does not affect salvation) and unbelievers (cf. Job 34:11 ; Psa 28:4 ; Psa 62:12 ; Pro 24:12 ; Ecc 12:14 ; Jer 17:10 ; Jer 32:19 ; Mat 16:27 ; Mat 25:31-46 ; Rom 2:6 ; Rom 14:12 ; 1Co 3:8 ; 2Co 5:10 ; Gal 6:7-10 ; 2Ti 4:14 ; 1Pe 1:17 ; Rev 2:23 ; Rev 20:12 ; Rev 22:12 ).
Gal 6:8 "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption" This refers to the two basic approaches of being right with God (cf. Gal 5:13 ; Gal 5:16-17 ), human effort (cf. Rom 8:6-8 ; Rom 8:13 ) and free grace (cf. Rom 8:2-4 ; Rom 8:6 ; Rom 8:12-14 ).
▣ "corruption" See Special Topic following.
SPECIAL TOPIC: DESTROY, RUIN, CORRUPT (PHTHEIRÔ) <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/destroy.html>
▣ "eternal life" The concept of eternal life which is found in Gal 6:8 is from the Greek word zoç. It is used particularly by John to refer to resurrection life, the life of the new age (cf. Rom 5:21 ; Rom 6:22-23 ; Tit 1:2 ; Tit 3:7 ). It has the same implication here. Gal 6:8-10 show the consequences of our sowing and reaping.
Gal 6:9 "Let us not lose heart in doing good" This is literally "to despair" or "to lose heart" (NEGATED PRESENT ACTIVE SUBJUNCTIVE cf. Luk 18:1 ; 2Th 3:13 ; 2Co 4:1 ; 2Co 4:16 ; Heb 12:3 .) Often Christians grow weary of the very things that they have been called to do.
▣ "for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary" Notice the conditional element (not conditional sentence). It is conditioned on our continued faith response. Also, note the element of God's sovereign timing in our lives. We do not understand why things happen as they do, but because we believe in the sovereignty of God and the specific demands of the free gospel, we direct our lives to certain ways of service and giving. See Special Topic on Perseverance at Gal 3:4 .
Gal 6:10 "So then, while we have opportunity" Believers must continue to watch for opportunities to live out their faith in Christ (cf. Eph 5:15-21 ; Col 4:2-6 ). This phrase will refer to
1. opportunities in daily like
2. before persecution comes
3. before the Second Coming
This may be an allusion to Psa 69:13 or Isa 49:8 (cf. 2Co 6:2 ).
▣ "let us do good" This is a present middle (deponent) subjunctive. Paul states with conviction that our standing with God does not come by human effort, but he is equally emphatic that once we know God we should live a life of strenuous service (i.e., Tit 3:8 ; Tit 3:14 ). These twin truths are found in Eph 2:8-9 and then Gal 6:10 . We are not saved by good works, but we are most definitely saved unto good works.
▣ "to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith" Notice that our love is meant for all people for there is always a view toward evangelism in all of our actions (cf. Mat 28:19-20 ; Luk 24:47 ; Joh 20:31 ; Act 1:8 ; 1Co 9:19-23 ; 1Pe 3:15 ). However, our primary focus, as far as fellowship, is on the members of the family of God. This is not denominationally focused for we are to take a person at his word that he has trusted in Christ. Once he has made that confession we are to serve him as Christ served us.
I very much like Gordon Fee's insight in to the corporate nature of this book, not the typical western individual emphasis. This book is about the Spirit-filled life of the community of faith and beyond (cf. To What End Exegesis?, p. 163).
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gal 6:11-16 11See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. 14But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Gal 6:11 "See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand" This is an aorist active imperative. Paul dictated his letters to a scribe (cf. Rom 16:22 ). Some see these final words in Paul's own handwriting as Paul's way of verifying his true letters, in light of 2Th 2:2 . We know from several of Paul's letters that he wrote the concluding sentences in his own hand (cf. 1Co 16:21 ; Col 4:18 ; 2Th 3:17 and Phm 1:19 ). Since I believe that Paul's thorn in the flesh was Oriental ophthalmia, this is an added evidence of his need to write, not in the small, concise writing of a scribe, but with the scrawling hand of a man who was partially blind.
Gal 6:12 NASB "Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh"
NKJV "As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh"
NRSV "It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh"
TEV "Those who want to show off and brag about external matters"
NJB "It is only self-interest"
The Judaizers were more concerned with the outer aspects of religion (cf. Col 2:16-23 ); they wanted a religious show (cf. Gal 4:17 )! Convincing the Galatians to be circumcised would be a "feather in their caps" (cf. Gal 6:13 c). The false teachers wanted self-affirmation at the expense of the Galatian believers.
For "flesh" see Special Topic at Gal 1:16 .
▣ "try to compel you to be circumcised" Gal 6:12-16 are a summary of the entire letter which focuses on the inappropriate emphasis of the false teachers on human effort as a means of being saved or of being fully matured. This is a recurrent danger in the modern church as believers demand service, enthusiasm, ritual, attendance, Bible knowledge, prayer, or any of the good discipleship techniques as a means of being complete in Christ. Paul's great truth was that believers are complete in their standing with God when they have trusted Jesus Christ by faith. In light of this new, full acceptance, believers then must yield themselves in gratitude to God and service to others (i.e., Jas 2:14-26 ).
▣ "simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ" This may refer to
1. Jewish persecution (cf. Act 13:45 ; Act 13:50 ; Act 14:2 ; Act 14:5 ; Act 14:19 ); the Judaizers by their insistence on the Law of Moses would not be rejected as strenuously as Paul's teaching of free grace in Christ alone
2. Roman persecution because Christianity was not a legal, recognized religion as was Judaism
The synagogue instituted its curse formula, which was a rabbinical way of forcing Christians out of the synagogue because they would not and could not say "Jesus is accursed" (cf. Joh 9:22 ; Joh 9:35 ; Joh 12:42 ; Joh 16:2 ).
Gal 6:13 "For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves" The subject of this sentence is ambiguous, which could be (1) the false teachers or (2) aggressive converts within the churches of Galatia. The men who argued circumcision as a means of being right with God could not even keep the whole Law themselves (cf. Rom 2:17-29 ). If you break the Law one time (after the age of moral responsibility), in one way, then Jas 2:10 (and Gal 5:3 ) is a truth to be reckoned with!
Gal 6:14 "But may it never be" See note at Gal 2:17 .
▣ "that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" Paul, of all people, knew what it was to be redeemed out of an undeserving life, zealous though it may be (cf. Php 3:2-16 ). Human boasting is excluded when human merit is excluded (cf. Jer 9:23-26 ; Rom 3:27-28 ; 1Co 1:26-31 ). See SPECIAL TOPIC: BOASTING <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/boasting.html> at Gal 6:4 .
▣ "through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" This is the continuing metaphor throughout Galatians which speaks of believers' death to the Law and their being alive to God in Christ. This is a perfect passive indicative, which emphasizes a continuing state accomplished by an outside agent, here, the Spirit. This metaphor is used in Gal 2:19 ; Gal 5:24 , and here expressing how all things become new when believers identify with Christ's death on the cross. They are now free from the Law in order to live for God (cf. Rom 6:10-23 ).
For "world" see Special Topic: "Kosmos" at Gal 4:3 .
Gal 6:15 "For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation" Paul has already mentioned that circumcision is not the issue (cf. Gal 5:6 ; Rom 2:28-29 ; 1Co 7:18-19 ). The issue is salvation, if believers try to make themselves acceptable to God by human effort, either pagan or Jew, they are totally cut off from the absolutely free gift of God in Jesus Christ. There are two mutually exclusive ways of being right with God.
1. the free gospel of Christ through repentance and faith
2. human effort
Paul restates that circumcision is not really the issue (nor food laws, cf. 1 Corinthians 8; 1Co 10:23-26 ), but how one pursues right standing with God by perfectly fulfilling the law.
Several early Greek manuscripts add "in Christ Jesus" after "For neither" (MSS א, A, C, D, F, G, and most minuscules and versions (cf. NKJV). However, most modern English versions leave it out because it is absent in MSS P40 and B. The UBS4 rates its exclusion as "A" (certain). It probably was a scribal assimilation from Gal 5:6 .
▣ "but a new creation" This is the New Covenant; believers are brand new people in Jesus Christ! All old things have passed away and everything is new (cf. Rom 6:4 ; Rom 8:19-22 ; 2Co 5:17 ; Eph 2:15 ; Eph 4:24 ; Col 3:10 ).
Gal 6:16 "And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them" This may be a loose quotation from Psa 125:5 ; Psa 128:6 . From the Greek word "rule" (kanoni) the English word "canon" is derived. This was a construction term used for a measuring reed. It is used here to refer to the gospel (Jesus' yoke, cf. Gal 6:2 ). Notice believers are to walk in it, not just affirm it (cf. Jas 1:22 ).
▣ "the Israel of God" Significantly Paul calls the Church "the Israel of God." In his writings he has emphasized that Abraham's true seed is not by racial descent but by faith descent (cf. Gal 3:7 ; Gal 3:9 ; Gal 3:29 ; Rom 2:28-29 ; Rom 9:6 ; Php 3:3 ). The gospel is about Jesus, not national Israel! Believers in Christ are the true "people of God"!
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gal 6:17 17From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.
Gal 6:17 "From now on let no one cause trouble for me" The verb is a present active imperative. To whom this is addressed or why is not known. Paul appealed to his service for Christ as the reason that this should not happen again. It possibly refers to the personal attacks that the false teachers used to alienate the Galatian believers from the gospel. The Galatian believers allowed this to happen!
▣ "for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus" As the false teachers were emphasizing circumcision as a mark of God's covenant, Paul asserted that he also had an outward sign. They were the scars
1. of his physical persecution for preaching the good news of Christ (i.e., 2Co 4:7-12 ; 2Co 6:4-6 ; 2Co 11:23-28 )
2. from his Damascus road encounter with the risen Christ
3. as a sign Paul was a slave/servant of Christ and under His protection
I think #1 fits the context best.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gal 6:18 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Gal 6:18 This is an example of a brief closing blessing in a cyclical letter (because there are no personal greetings, like Ephesians). Note that the term "be with your spirit" is a good example of the small "s" (spirit) which is used of mankind's spirit, not the Holy Spirit. However, in many instances in the New Testament, it refers to the human spirit, which is energized by the Holy Spirit. This is probably the implication here.
SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S PRAYER, PRAISE, AND THANKSGIVING <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/pauls_prayer.html>
▣ "Amen" See Special Topic at Gal 1:5 .
