  PAUL'S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS
  GALATIANS CHAPTER SIX
  (A Bible Commentary compiled by Don Krow)



GAL 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

The word "overtaken" carries the idea of something that comes upon a person by surprise. If I were to overtake you I could hide behind a tree and wait till you come by and then grab you. If you knew I was behind the tree I would not be able to overtake you.

Those that are walking in daily dependence upon the Spirit {the spiritual} are to "restore" the one that has fallen. "Restore" is used of "setting a bone that has been broken." "Meekness" means to treat in a gentle way.

This passage is not talking about getting a ball bat and hitting the one who has fallen, but doing everything to "restore" that one back to fellowship with God and man.

Paul states also that we should consider ourself lest we be tempted and fall.




GAL 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

The Greek word used for "burden" here is BAROS {bar-os} and means "a heavy weight, burden or trouble." It is such a heavy weight that if a person is not helped in carrying it he will be overwhelmed. This may be either a sin (Gal. 6:1) or a circumstance of life.

As we assist in love and the helping of others we fulfil Christ law. Our love should go beyond just not seeing someone hurt but also to the satisfaction of seeing them made happy and restored. For this is how we love ourselves (Gal. 5:14).




GAL 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

"Paul wants to remind his readers that often the sight of an erring brother (v.1) creates in some a sense of spiritual superiority rather than a genuine desire to help" (UBS Handbook, p. 147).

We should not have an improper estimate of ourselves. To boast of our own superiority as if we could not fall into sin or fail is self-deception and results in becoming a Pharisee.




GAL 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

"Something must be laid aside if a believer is to be a burden-bearer and that is conceit, an attitude that breeds intolerance of error in another and causes one to think he is above failure. The remedy for self-conceit is found in verse 4 - everyone is told to test his own actions. This means that rather than comparing himself with others he should step back and take an objective look at himself and his accomplishments (TBKC, p. 609).

The phrase "then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone" means "self- satisfaction" rather than sinful personal pride.




GAL 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

"Here we have Paul telling us in verse 2 to bear one another's burdens but in verse 5 to bear our own burden. Is there a contradiction here? Apparently many people think so. For example, in the popular book, IS THAT IN THE BIBLE? by Dr. Charles F. Potter, there is a section on 'Contradictions.' Dr. Charles Potter asks the question, `In what chapter does Paul contradict himself?' The answer he gives is, `Galatians 6.' In verse 2 Paul says `Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.' In verse 5 he says `For every man shall bear his own burden.' Unfortunately, this book (like so many other secular treatments of religious subjects) is either not quite honest or else the author did not do his homework very well. The difficulty, as you may have guessed, exists only in the English text, not in the original Greek.

To solve this problem...we can easily see the distinction between the two words (`burden'(s)in the Greek): In Galatians 6:2 BAROS is concerned with the burdens of temptation and weakness which come to every Christian. In 6:5 PHORTION refers to the load of work or responsibility for which each Christian must answer concerning himself. While you can help me with my infirmities, I am still responsible for my own service to the Lord and will have to make an accounting one day (2 Cor. 5:10). At that time it will do me no good to plead, `Well, Mr. So-and-So did less work than I did,' for we are responsible for the `talents' (Mt. 25:14-30) and `pounds' (Lk. 19:11-27) which the Lord gives us, not what he may give to someone else.

It can be seen that `burden' is not incorrect in either case, but it is certainly confusing. Some modern versions clarify the passage to a certain extent by rendering 6:2 as `burdens' and 6:5 as `load' (NASV and NIV). The full distinction, however, can be discovered only by using Greek study aids (such as Vine's Dictionary)" (How to us the New Testament Greek Study Aids, by Walter Jerry Clark, pp. 99-101).




GAL 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

J. B. Phillips translates this verse in the following manner: "The man under Christian instruction should be willing to contribute toward the livelihood of his teacher." In other words, You should share all good things with those who you are receiving spiritual benefits from.

The thought returns to bearing the burdens of others {your instructor} by helping him with his ministerial work. As you help in material ways you are participating in the Lord's work by helping it continue.

"This concept of voluntary giving to provide for the Lord's servants was revolutionary since Jews were taxed for the support of their priests and Gentiles paid fees, made vows, etc., to sustain their religions" (TBKC, p. 610).

The New Testament priority of giving was: The poor, needy and widows, as well as those who instructed others in the Word of God.




GAL 6:7-8 [7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Paul now states, Do not be deceived, God is not mocked! The word "mock" in Greek literally means "to turn up the nose at or sneer" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). What a man plant's he will also reap as a harvest.

If a man plants his life IN THE DIRECTION OF the flesh {literally, soweth "to" the flesh} he will reap corruption {death, destruction and will perish}. But if he plants his life IN THE DIRECTION OF the Spirit, of the Spirit {literally "coming from or resulting from"} the Spirit he will reap life everlasting, or a harvest that will last forever.

These verses are describing the necessity of true repentance. For more information see my article "What is Repentance?" on this website.




GAL 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

A parallel passage to these verses is found in Romans 2:7-9 which describes an active faith that persist until the final consummation of life eternal. Faith without works is dead and Paul is speaking about an active faith which sows to the Spirit, manifest in well doing, and reaps everlasting life (See 1 Jn. 3:7-8). The new nature and its fruit is the manifestation to the world that we belong to Him. Saving faith is not intellectual assent (See Jas. 2). As John Calvin said, Faith alone saves but saving faith is not alone.




GAL 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

The Christians responsibility is to do good unto all men {believers and non-believers}. However, there is a priority to those who are our family in the faith. In the Greek "the exhortation is not merely to do good to others when the opportunity presents itself, but to look for opportunities to do good to others" (WWS, Vol. 1, p. 174).




GAL 6:11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

"Some scholars believe the whole letter was written by Paul and that the big letters are a form of emphasis, similar to the modern practice of italicizing or underscoring" (UBS Handbook, p. 154).




GAL 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

The Judaizers were trying to escape persecution from their Jewish brethren who didn't believe in Christ. They maintained if they showed the Jews that the way of salvation was still the law they could be accepted by them. So they were trying to force circumcision upon the church {Jews and Gentiles} as a faith plus works method of salvation. This would avoid the persecution that would come if they acknowledged that salvation comes only through Jesus and Him crucified.

The Simple English Bible translates this "Some men are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do these things, so that the Jewish people will accept them, fearing they will be persecuted, if they follow only the cross of Christ."




GAL 6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Even those that have submitted to circumcision and the keeping of law for salvation, have not kept it. Even those today who insist that we must keep the law {for acceptance with God} do not keep it in its entirety. There are 613 commandments with great portions being ignored regardless of how zealous one is to keep it.

The Judaizers wanted the Gentiles to be circumcised so that they could boast about them becoming their disciples {members of just another Jewish sect}.




GAL 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Even though the Judaizers boast in the works of their flesh Paul says, "God forbid that I should boast in anything except Jesus Christ and him crucified for me." Notice that there is a double crucifixion. The world was crucified and Paul was crucified unto it. This means that all of the world's system that he was involved in, including being a Pharisee, he is now dead to. Paul's meaning in life now is to live unto the risen Christ in which he now glorifies.




GAL 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Religious rites mean nothing. The only thing that counts is to be part of the New Creation.




GAL 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Peace and mercy are available from God upon all who live according to this rule or principle of the New Creation.

"The Israel of God" is probably referring to the Jewish believers.




GAL 6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

The Today's English Version translates this verse, "To conclude: Let no one give me any more trouble, because the scares I have on my body show that I am the slave of Jesus."

Paul is referring to the practice of branding slaves in order to mark them as belonging to their master. Paul's scars were the result of his suffering and persecution for the gospel. Paul states, I have the marks of his ownership in my body, please don't trouble me anymore.




GAL 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Paul still acknowledged the Galatians as brothers and prays in his final words for the grace of the Lord Jesus to be with them.


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BIBLIOGRAPHY

(Sources cited and consulted)

(UBS Handbook) A Handbook on Paul's Letter to the Galatians. By Daniel C. Arichea & Eugene A. Nida. United Bible Societies, New York.

(TBKC) The Bible Knowledge Commentary by John F. Walvoord & Roy B. Zuck. Victor Books.

IS THAT IN THE BIBLE? by Dr. Charles F. Potter. A section on `contradictions.'

NEW TESTAMENT GREEK STUDY AIDS, by Walter Jerry Clark. Loizeaux Brothers, Neptune, New Jersey.

The New Testament in Modern English, translated by J. B.Phillips, The Macmillan Company, New York, New York.

(Thayer's) The New Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. By Joseph Henry Thayer, D.D., Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, MA 01961.

(WWS or Wuest) Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament. Volume One. By Kenneth S. Wuest. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49502.

(SEB) The Simple English Bible. International Bible Foundation, Dallas, Texas.

(TEV) Today's English Version. By American Bible Society, New York.

(KJV) The King James Version of 1611.



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