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English
Standard Version
Bear One
Another's Burdens
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any
transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit
of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear
one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if
anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives
himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then
his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each
will have to bear his own load.
6 Let the one who is taught the word
share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be
deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also
reap. 8 For 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. 9 And let us not grow
weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give
up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do
good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of
faith.
Final
Warning and Benediction
11 See with what large letters I am
writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want
to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised,
and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of
Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not
themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may
boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to
boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the
world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither
circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new
creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace
and mercy be upon them, and upon 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. Amen.
Introduction
The sixth
chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians serves as a powerful and practical
conclusion to his vigorous defense of justification by faith and life in the
Spirit. It transitions from doctrinal argument to pastoral exhortation,
offering an example for how we should live out our freedom in the gospel. The
chapter is broadly divided into two sections: instructions for communal living
(vv. 1–10) and a final, personal appeal from Paul (vv. 11–18).
The opening
verses introduce a central, paradoxical tension of the Christian life: the call
to "bear one another’s burdens" (v. 2) while recognizing that
"each will have to bear his own load" (v. 5). This is not a
contradiction but a reflection of life in the Spirit. Believers are summoned to
gentle, humble restoration of those caught in sin, guarding against
self-righteousness. This mutual burden-bearing is how the "law of Christ”,
the law of love, is fulfilled. The community is called to accountability
without comparison, testing one's own work rather than boasting in comparison
to a neighbour.
Paul then
grounds this ethic in the principle of sowing and reaping (vv. 7–9), a sobering
reminder of spiritual cause and effect. Life oriented toward the flesh, or
selfish desires, leads to corruption, while a life oriented toward the Spirit
yields eternal life. This principle fuels perseverance in doing good,
especially within the household of faith. The section culminates with Paul’s
encouragement to do good to all people as opportunity arises, but especially to
our brothers and sisters in the faith.
The final
section, written in Paul’s own large script for emphasis, returns to the
letter's core conflict; the false teaching that required Gentile circumcision
for full acceptance. Paul exposes the motives of the agitators, their real
concern is avoiding persecution for saying that Gentiles can be full members of
God’s household. In stark contrast, Paul’s only boast is in the cross of
Christ, through which his allegiance to the world system has been utterly
severed. True identity is found not in religious rituals like circumcision of
uncircumcision but in being a "new creation." He closes with a plea
to be left unopposed, bearing in his own body the scars of his service to
Jesus, and offers a benediction of grace.
Paul wants
Christians to pursue God’s grace in the community of believers, rather than
seek the things of the flesh.
Galatians
6, Bible study Questions
1. What attitude and motivation should characterize the restoration of a believer caught in sin (v. 1)? Why is self-awareness crucial for the restorer?
Cross-references: Matthew 18:15; James 5:19–20
2. How does "bearing one another’s burdens" fulfill the "law of Christ" (v. 2)? What does this tell us about Christ's law?
Cross-references: John 13:34–35; Romans 15:1
3. Verses 3–5 warn against self-deception and comparison. How does testing "his own work" (v. 4) prevent the deception of thinking "he is something" (v. 3)?
Cross-references: 2 Corinthians 10:12; 1 Corinthians 4:3–5
4. How do you reconcile the command to bear another’s burden (v. 2) with the statement that each must bear his own load (v. 5)? What is the difference between a "burden" and a "load"?
Cross-references: Acts 20:35; 2 Thessalonians 3:10–13
5. What principle does verse 6 establish for the relationship between teachers and those taught? How does this reflect mutual burden-bearing?
Cross-references: 1 Corinthians 9:11, 14; 1 Timothy 5:17–18
6. The metaphor of sowing and reaping (vv. 7–8) is a universal spiritual principle. What does it mean to "sow to the flesh" versus "sow to the Spirit"? What are the respective harvests?
Cross-references: Proverbs 11:18; Romans 8:5–6, 13
7. In the context of not growing weary (v. 9), what encouragement does Paul give? How does the sowing/reaping principle fuel perseverance?
Cross-references: 2 Thessalonians 3:13; Hebrews 12:1–3
8. Verse 10 provides a scope for doing good. What is the relationship between doing good to "everyone" and "especially" to fellow believers?
Cross-references: Matthew 5:43–48; 1 John 3:16–18
9. Why does Paul take over the writing with "large letters" (v. 11)? What does this personal touch emphasize about the content to follow?
Cross-references: 1 Corinthians 16:21; Colossians 4:18
10. According to Paul, what were the false teachers' true motivations for insisting on circumcision (vv. 12–13)? What were they trying to avoid, and what did they hope to gain?
Cross-references: Matthew 23:5; Philippians 3:2–3
11. In contrast to the false teachers, what is Paul's sole boast (v. 14)? What does it mean that "the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world"?
Cross-references: 1 Corinthians 2:2; Philippians 3:7–8
12. What are the "marks of Jesus" that Paul bears on his body (v. 17)? How do these validate his message and authority?
Cross-references: 2 Corinthians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 11:23–25
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