Week 14
Chapter 6
Bear One Another’s Burdens
1 Brothers and sisters, if a person is overtaken in some wrongdoing, you, the ones who are S/spiritual, must restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness/humbly, while paying attention to yourselves so that you will not be tempted as well. 2 Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of the Anointed. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something while being nothing, he is deceiving himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have a reason to take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself to another; 5 for everyone will carry one’s own load.
6 Now the one who is instructed in the word must share all good things with the one who instructs him. 7 Do not be lead astray. God is not to be made a fool of. For whatever a person sows, he will also reap; 8 because the one who sows in the flesh, he will reap of himself total destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows in the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 Now let us not be discouraged from doing good things, for in due time we will reap if we don’t give up. 10 So then, while we have time, let us work good things to all people, and especially to the members of the household of faith. My Translation
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. NIV11
Comment
Paul carries on his thoughts on how the Galatians should treat each other or how they should “love their neighbor as they love themselves”. He will also show examples of what it means to “keep in step with the Spirit” and how Spiritual fruit is actually produced.
1 Brothers and sisters, if a person is overtaken in some wrongdoing, you, the ones who are S/spiritual, must restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness, while paying attention to yourselves so that you will not be tempted as well. My Translation
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. NIV11
Paul is speaking of a person who is part of the congregation/s in Galatia. The most interesting aspect of the of the opening line is Paul’s use of παράπτωμα as we define as “sin,” “trespass,” or “wrong-doing.” Its cognate verb παραπίπτω (a combination of the preposition παρά meaning “from/beside” and πίπτω meaning “to fall”. Together, the word means “to fall beside or aside,” or “to stumble on something by chance.” In an ethical sense, it became known as “to be led past,” “to go astray,” “to be mistaken.” A παράπτωμα then is “slip” or “an error”. It could also possibly mean a “mis-step”. Paul is probably using παράπτωμα in contrast to “keep in step with the Spirit”. Therefore, it is probably used toward someone who is was “keeping in step with the Spirit”, but has suffered a “mis-step” while “walking by the Spirit”.
In the Greek text, Paul uses ὑμεῖς οἱ πνευματικοὶ (you, the ones who are spiritual). He is obviously speaking to the Galatian congregations as a whole. He is probably not using “you who are spiritual” as a contrast to the one who has had a “mis-step”. He means those who are “walking by the Spirit” and “keeping in step with the Spirit” not that they are more “spiritual” than the person who has just had a “slip”. That person has just had a “mis-step” while “walking in the Spirit”. The rest of the congregation members are to help that person to get back on track of “walking by the Spirit” without mis-stepping.
This restoration is supposed to be done ἐν πνεύματι πραΰτητος (in/by a spirit of gentleness” or “the Spirit of gentleness”. There should be no surprise here as Paul actually defines what the Spiritual fruit “gentleness” actually means. Here, the full force of the definition would apply: “gentleness, humility, courtesy”.
The congregation should restore the person in a “humble” manner while realizing that they too could be placed in this position. It is not Paul’s intent that the mis-step of a person could cause someone else to mis-step, although that could possibly happen. Paul’s message is that the rest of the congregation should restore a person in the same way they they would hope to be restored, by true love. If the Galatians “love their neighbor as they love themselves”, then they should remember that they too could slip up and fall. This is how they would become “a slave to each other” (5:13). Therefore, they are to treat the one who mis-step the same way that they would want to be treated.
Some may ask “how would members of a congregation become tempted? Remember 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another or envying one another. There is always a temptation to place one’s self over a brother or sister who has sinned. But we should not think ourselves to be spiritually superior to others. That sort of thinking only makes us conceited.
2 Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of the Anointed. My Translation
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. NIV11
The Galatians are to carry each others “weight”. In this case, Paul is referring to the “weight” or “burden” of a “mis-step”. The Galatians are to help the ones who mis-step get through that burden of sin. By doing so, the Galatians (and we) fulfill or “fill up to the top” the law of Christ”. Back in 5:14, one fulfills the whole Jewish law by “You will love your neighbor as yourself.” Here, that love “fills up the brim” the law of Christ which represents the ethical treatment of “spirit people” to each other.
3 For if anyone thinks he is something while being nothing, he is deceiving himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have a reason to take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself to another; 5 for everyone will carry one’s own load. My Translation
3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. NIV11
Paul carries on how the Galatians should treat one another. The idea of verse 3 seems to be formulated around the idea that one can be Spiritually superior to the one who has had a mis-stepped. This sort of thinking only leads to a person becoming conceited. If this happens, then the person who has become conceited is just fooling himself and is allowing his way of thinking to deceive himself (φρεναπατᾷ). φρεναπατάω is a compound word consisting of φρήν (thinking, understanding) and ἀπατάω (to deceive, to mislead).
A person should take a hard look at themselves and put their actions/works to the test and let the Spirit guide. If those actions/works turn out to be on the good side of things, the the Galatians have a “ground to boast”, but only to themselves. They and we should never compare their work with others’ work. If they do, then that plows fertile ground for even more conceit. It is in this way that all must carry their own loads. This, of course, is different from carrying someone else’s burden when it comes to restoring them in a humble way.
6 Now the one who is instructed in the word must share all good things with the one who instructs him. My Translation
6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. NIV11
Most scholars believe that Paul is referring to how those who are in ministry should be supported by the ones that they minister to. But the context really doesn’t seem to support that idea, at least not here. Also, this is different from Paul’s other statements about ministry support (1 Corinthians 9:3-14; 1 Timothy 5:18). Nevertheless, it still could be what Paul is referring to.
There is no doubt that τὸν λόγον (the word) means “the Gospel”, or at least from the context, “correction by the word”. A person should share what he has (all good things) with the person who is instructing him which is the meaning of the verb κοινωνέω. Whether that represent finances or not, there is just not enough information here to tell. What is sure from the context is that this continues how Christians should treat each other.
7 Do not be lead astray. God is not to be made a fool of. For whatever a person sows, he will also reap; 8 because the one who sows in the flesh, he will reap of himself total destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows in the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. My Translation
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. NIV11
Verse seven can be translated as “Do not be lead astray”. The next part of the verse literally means: God is not someone to turn up the nose at”. Mυκτηρίζω is from μυκτήρ (nostril, nose). Here, it means mockery or contempt. From the previous context, not living as “Spirit people” should live is probably in view. Up onto this point, the context has dealt with how people are to treat each other as Christians. Paul also brings back “the works of the flesh” and “the fruit of the Spirit” from 5:13-26. By treating each other badly, The Galatians (and we) are turning their nose up at God because they are ignoring the Holy Spirit’s work in their (our) lives. If they sow the works of the flesh, then they will reap from the field what the works of the flesh brings; total destruction. But the Spirit brings eternal life as a product of sowing the fruit of the Spirit.
9 Now let us not be discouraged from doing good things, for in due time we will reap if we don’t give up. 10 So then, while we have time, let us work good things to all people, and especially to the members of the household of faith. My Translation
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. NIV11
Paul wraps up his teaching on how to treat each other, but it can be expanded to include all good things that Christians do. Paul’s main verb in the opening part of verse 9 is ἐγκακέω. It means “to lose one’s motivation in continuing a desirable pattern of conduct or activity”, or “to lose enthusiasm”, or “to be discouraged”. Paul also carries on the “reaping” idea. Here, the Galatians will reap eternal life if they don’t give up on doing good things. From the context, Paul is still dealing with how they are treating one another. Therefore, the “good things” that the Galatians are doing are the well treatment of each other.
Paul also states everyone has a set time in which one will reap his eternal life. He states καιρῷ γὰρ ἰδίῳ (for in due time/for in own’s own appointed time/for at the proper time) to state that the time is set. This will only be obtained if one doesn’t “give up, be exhausted in strength, become weary (ἐκλύω).
The Galatians are to do the good things to all people while they have the set time to do it. Paul then adds special treatment to τοὺς οἰκείους τῆς πίστεως (the household of faith/family of believers). These, of course, are fellow Christians in Galatia. Paul is still not losing site of the context.
Conclusion
Paul continues to address how the Galatians, who are spiritual people, should treat each other. They are not to look down on one who “missteps” in sin. They are be humble in their restoration of that person in the Christian community. They certainly shouldn’t think that they are better than any other Christian.
The Galatians will reap eternal life if they don’t give up/out on doing good things to all people, but especially, to their own spiritual family.
Week 15
Final Warning and Benediction
11 You see what I wrote to you with large letters in my own hand. 12 Those who are willing to make a good showing in the flesh are trying to force you to be circumcised only so that they may not be persecuted because of the cross of the Anointed. 13 For the ones who are circumcised are not even keeping the law themselves, but are desiring for you to be circumcised, so that they may take pride in your flesh. 14 But may it never be for me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, through which the world has been crucified to me and I have been crucified to the world. 15 For circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation is something. 16 And as many as will keep in step with this rule, there is peace and mercy on them, even on the Israel of God.
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble. For I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed be with your spirit brothers and sisters. Amen. My Translation
11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen. NIV11
Comment
Paul is about to close his letter, but he can’t close it without one more departing blow on the agitators.
11 You see what I wrote to you with large letters in my own hand. My Translation
11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! NIV11
Paul now takes the pen from whom he has been dictating this letter to so that he can write the last few sentences. Apparently, the “large letters” represent the change in handwriting style so that the Galatians will know that Paul is the writer of the last lines. Some scholars have reached back to 4:15 where the Galatians would have dug out their own eyes for Paul to try to explain the large letter reference here. There just isn’t any evidence that Paul had any eye problem, so therefore, we must take this as a “change in handwriting style”.
12 Those who are willing to make a good showing in the flesh are trying to force you to be circumcised only so that they may not be persecuted because of the cross of the Anointed. 13 For the ones who are circumcised are not even keeping the law themselves, but are desiring for you to be circumcised, so that they may take pride in your flesh. My Translation
12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. NIV11
Paul immediately goes back into the main reason that he wrote this letter to begin with; the agitators’ threat to the Galatians. Paul states that their motives were to keep themselves from being persecuted for the sake of the cross. The only ones who could persecute them with the conformity of the Jewish law were the Jews themselves. Apparently, the agitators were trying to curry favor with the unbelieving Jews by having Gentile Christians circumcised, thus making out that the Gentile Christians were desiring to become proselyte Jews. The results, at least from the agitators’ standpoint, would have been that the non-believing Jews would treat the believing Jews better.
Paul also reinforces that the law can’t be kept fully, not even by these agitators. They merely want to boast or take pride in what they would have accomplished if the Galatians did in fact become circumcised. I suppose that they would have thought it to be a “feather in their cap” to the non-believing Jews.
14 But may it never be for me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, through which the world has been crucified to me and I have been crucified to the world. My Translation
14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. NIV11
If one should boast or take pride, then it should be over one’s deliverance from the law and sin. If we keep Paul’s context of the letter, then κόσμος (the world) is the same as τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου (the basic elements of the world) in 4:3 which is the same as τὰ ἀσθενῆ καὶ πτωχὰ στοιχεῖα (the weak and poor basic elements) found in 4:9. As established in the letter, both of these phrases represent both Judaism and Paganism. Both enslaved people under sin. Both people enslaved under these needed a Redeemer! Someone who could “buy them out” of both the law and sin. Jesus did buy out all Christians from the law and sin. He did that by giving his life by the worse possible means available at the time...a cross. As a result, Christians are no longer under the law and sin, nor do they have anything to do with it. When one is crucified, one dies. The life that one had before is destroyed.
15 For circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation is something. 16 And as many as will keep in step with this rule, there is peace and mercy on them, even on the Israel of God. My Translation
15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God. NIV11
Paul uses γὰρ (for) to explain what he just wrote by his own hand. If one has crucified or put to death their old way of life, whether it was Judaism or Paganism, then that former life means nothing. What is importing now is one’s “new being” or καινὴ κτίσις (new creation). The old way is gone. The new way is now and as I have translation it, “it IS something” while the past is not anything.
Paul uses στοιχέω here as he did back in 5:25. There, it was “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Here, the Galatians are to “keep in step” with the rule that Paul established in verse 15. Of course, to keep in step with this rule actually shows that a person is letting the Holy Spirit influence their life, thus they are also “keeping step with the Spirit”.
For all for “keep in step” with this rule, they will have peace and mercy on them. Paul then adds a phrase that has somewhat perplexed people. He adds καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ (and/even on the Israel of God). Many have asked “what does this mean?” Given the context of the letter where the Galatian Christians were the “Jerusalem that is above” back in 4:26, it should be of no surprise that Paul states that the “new creation” is “God’s Israel”. In the OT, Israel was God’s people, but now, God’s people are all who put their faith in Jesus and thus who are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, καὶ is being used in a way that explains who will receive the peace and mercy. It could be translated as “even” or “that is”. NIV11 also translates this phrase in such a way so that the reader understands what Paul is actually stating. “The”, with the article, “Israel of God”. God’s true people.
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble. For I bear the marks of Jesus on my body. My Translation
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. NIV11
Paul has now completely explained himself and the true way of the Christian. Therefore, the Galatians should rid themselves of all of the problems that the agitators caused among them. By doing so, they will no longer trouble Paul as he has been “at a loss about them”, thus the Galatians are troubling him in what is going on.
Why should they not trouble Paul going forward? Because he bears τὰ στίγματα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ (the marks of Jesus) in his body. A στίγμα is a tattoo or a brand that was used in “branding” or “marking” slaves. It was also used as “tattooing” those of certain religions.
Back in 1:10, Paul calls himself “a slave of Christ”. He now states that he bears the marks to prove that he belongs to Christ as a slave. But Paul didn’t have a tattoo or a brand per se. He bore the scars of persecution of being a true Christian.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed be with your spirit brothers and sisters. Amen. My Translation
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen. NIV11
Paul ends his letter in typical Pauline style. He wishes that the Lord Jesus’ grace be with them. Not just on them in a bodily way, but with their inner being, their spirit.
Conclusion
Paul ends his letter writing the last lines himself. He summarizes the purpose of the letter again and states that the agitators’ motives were bad. The Galatians are reminded that their past life is nothing anymore. What they should look to is their current life in the Spirit as they and we are “The Israel of God”.
Paul himself states that he is branded as a slave of Jesus Christ. Not by a tattoo or are branding iron, but by the persecution that has come to him by being a Christian.
Aftermath
And what effect did Paul’s letter have on the Galatians? There is no doubt that this letter and the one from the Apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 15) put a stop to promoting the Jewish law among the Gentile Christians. But what are we to make of what the Galatians really thought of Paul’s letter? The proof of what they though lies in the fact that this letter is still with us today! Although this letter would have been hard on the Galatians, they keep and copied this letter to the extent that it eventually became “Scripture”.
It was written to the Galatians, but for us to gleam understanding of what Christian life was and what Christians faced in the 1st Century. It is also a great guide for us today. Although the law is long gone in todays Christians, the idea of legalism is alive and well throughout all of Christianity in some way or the other. I suppose it is human tendency to follow rules and regulations instead on relying on God. There is always the next man who is going to teach something “new” to Christians. Let us not fall victim to such. Let us strive to keep Christ first in our lives and not the rules and transitions of mankind. They will only hinder us in our walk in the Spirit. Use this letter as a guild as it was certainly used by the Galatians as one.
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