Galatians 6:1-6:10, Bear One Another’s Burdens (The Study of Galatians)

     1 Brothers, even if a man was overtaken1 in some wrongdoing2, you, the ones who are spiritual, restore such a man in the spirit of gentleness3, while paying attention to yourselves so that you also will not be tempted.4 2 Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ5. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something while being nothing, he is deceiving himself6. 4 But each one must examine7 his own work, and then will he have a reason to boast in himself only, and not in another; 5 for everyone will carry one’s own burden.8 6 Now the one who is instructed in the word is to share all good things with the one who instructs him.9 7 Do not be lead astray. God is not made a fool of10 . For whatever a man sows, he will also reap these things. 8 Because the one who sows in the flesh, he will reap of himself total destruction11 from the flesh, but the one who sows in the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 Now let us not lose heart12 of doing good things, for in due time13 we will reap if we don’t give up14. 10 So then, while we have time15, let us work good things to all people, and especially to the members of the household of faith16.

Introduction

Paul shifts from dealing with the Jewish law and starts focusing on producing "the fruit of the Spirit" as opposed to producing "the works of the flesh".  He deals with how Christians should act toward one another.

1 προλημφθῇ (was overtaken) 

or “was caught”. Overtaken by surprise.

2 ἔν τινι παραπτώματι (in some wrongdoing) 

or “in some transgression”.

3 We are to treat people who sin carefully and be very gentle (a fruit of the Spirit) with them as we try to rehabilitate him. Just because they may sin, this doesn’t give us the lead way to kick them out. We must help them to be restored to their place in the church. This is how we “carry each other’s burdens. The fruit of the Spirit!

4 Not in a sense of the person you are trying to help may tempt you, but one must be mindful that all people can fall to temptation. Paul’s wants his Churches in Galatia to keep this in mind and not judge others while they are helping to restore them lest they also may fall victim to temptation.

5 τὸν νόμον τοῦ Χριστοῦ (the law of Christ)

The law of Christ is much different from “performing the Jewish law”. While Jews were enslaved in the legalism of the Jewish law, the fruit of the Holy Spirit produced in Christians causes the law of Christ to happen. In the old covenant, a sinner is punished by their fellow people, in the new covenant, a sinner is helped to be restored by their brothers and sisters in the church.

6 In other words, If one thinks he is super spiritual and better than everyone else, he really isn’t. The very act of thinking that you are something “special” makes you to be nothing. εἰ γὰρ δοκεῖ τις εἶναί τι μηδὲν ὤν (For if anyone thinks he is something while being nothing): both δοκεῖ (thinks) and ὤν (while being) are in the present tense and carry a continual aspect. It could be translated: “For if anyone continually thinks he is something while continually being nothing”. The biggest take away here is the fact that a spiritual person does not perform the acts of the Spirit without the Spirit being present. As soon as one thinks that one is doing the Spiritual work in of one’s self, the works are now “of the flesh” and not “of the Spirit”. We as humans are nothing without the Spirit of God working within us.

7 δοκιμαζέτω (examine) 

or “put to the test” or “prove”.

8 Be happy within yourself for what your ministry is doing. One person’s ministry can’t be compared to another person’s ministry as they will always be different. God will judge on individual merit and will not compare what one person does to another. Paul’s use of “for everyone will carry one’s own burden” is different from verse 2 as one (verse 2) deals with helping to restore a person and the other (here) is for general ministry work.  You alone are responsible for your Spiritual ministry.  To boast in it may cause others to despise you or envy you.  In other words, Paul is trying to prevent the "works of the flesh" to come forth as a result of human boasting.

9 In other words, encourage your teachers and let them know the good things that are coming out of what they are teaching.

10 οὐ μυκτηρίζεται (is not made a fool of)

Greek: “is not to be turned a nose up at” A form of mockery. It may also be translated “God is not one whom you would turn up your nose at”.

11 φθοράν (total destruction) 

Or “ruin”.

12 μὴ ἐγκακῶμεν (not lose heart) 

or “not become discouraged”.

13 καιρῷ γὰρ ἰδίῳ (for in due time)

Greek: “for in one’s on appointed time”. The time that it takes to accomplish the task. Possibly in this case, ἡ παρουσία (the coming) of Jesus.

14 μὴ ἐκλυόμενοι (if we don’t give up)

Greek: “not giving up”. This participle is in the middle tense. The following glosses may can be added: “if we don’t give up in ourselves” or “if we don’t give up on ourselves”.

15 ὡς καιρὸν ἔχομεν (while we have time)

Greek: “as we have an appointed time” Referring to our finite time on earth. Paul preached the Jesus would return at any moment. He is probably referring to that in this passage.

16 τοὺς οἰκείους τῆς πίστεως (the household of faith)

or “the household of the faithful”. Referring to the Church as a whole. It’s the final stamp on making sure that members of the Galatia church helped each other in spiritual endeavors.

The Greek

Γαλάτας 6·1 Ἀδελφοί, ἐὰν καὶ προλημφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτώματι, ὑμεῖς οἱ πνευματικοὶ καταρτίζετε τὸν τοιοῦτον ἐν πνεύματι πραΰτητος, σκοπῶν σεαυτὸν μὴ καὶ σὺ πειρασθῇς. 2 Ἀλλήλων τὰ βάρη βαστάζετε καὶ οὕτως ἀναπληρώσετε τὸν νόμον τοῦ Χριστοῦ. 3 εἰ γὰρ δοκεῖ τις εἶναί τι μηδὲν ὤν, φρεναπατᾷ ἑαυτόν. 4 τὸ δὲ ἔργον ἑαυτοῦ δοκιμαζέτω ἕκαστος, καὶ τότε εἰς ἑαυτὸν μόνον τὸ καύχημα ἕξει καὶ οὐκ εἰς τὸν ἕτερον· 5 ἕκαστος γὰρ τὸ ἴδιον φορτίον βαστάσει. Γαλάτας 6·6 Κοινωνείτω δὲ ὁ κατηχούμενος τὸν λόγον τῷ κατηχοῦντι ἐν πᾶσιν ἀγαθοῖς. 7 Μὴ πλανᾶσθε, θεὸς οὐ μυκτηρίζεται. ὃ γὰρ ἐὰν σπείρῃ ἄνθρωπος, τοῦτο καὶ θερίσει· 8 ὅτι ὁ σπείρων εἰς τὴν σάρκα ἑαυτοῦ ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς θερίσει φθοράν, ὁ δὲ σπείρων εἰς τὸ πνεῦμα ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος θερίσει ζωὴν αἰώνιον. 9 τὸ δὲ καλὸν ποιοῦντες μὴ ἐγκακῶμεν, καιρῷ γὰρ ἰδίῳ θερίσομεν μὴ ἐκλυόμενοι. 10 Ἄρα οὖν ὡς καιρὸν ἔχομεν, ἐργαζώμεθα τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς πάντας, μάλιστα δὲ πρὸς τοὺς οἰκείους τῆς πίστεως.