Galatians 6
6
Support One Another
1 Brothers and sisters,#tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11. if a person#tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense, referring to both men and women. is discovered in some sin,#tn Or “some transgression” (L&N 88.297). you who are spiritual#sn Who are spiritual refers to people who are controlled and directed by God’s Spirit. restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness.#tn Or “with a gentle spirit” or “gently.” Pay close attention#tn Grk “taking careful notice.” to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Let each one examine#tn Or “determine the genuineness of.” his own work. Then he can take pride#tn Grk “he will have a reason for boasting.” in himself and not compare himself with#tn Or “and not in regard to.” The idea of comparison is implied in the context. someone else. 5 For each one will carry#tn Or perhaps, “each one must carry.” A number of modern translations treat βαστάσει (bastasei) as an imperatival future. his own load.
6 Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches#tn Or “instructs,” “imparts.” it. 7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool.#tn Or “is not mocked,” “will not be ridiculed” (L&N 33.409). BDAG 660 s.v. μυκτηρίζω has “of God οὐ μ. he is not to be mocked, treated w. contempt, perh. outwitted Gal 6:7.” For a person#tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense, referring to both men and women. will reap what he sows, 8 because the person who sows to his own flesh#tn BDAG 915 s.v. σάρξ 2.c.α states: “In Paul’s thought esp., all parts of the body constitute a totality known as σ. or flesh, which is dominated by sin to such a degree that wherever flesh is, all forms of sin are likew. present, and no good thing can live in the σάρξ…Gal 5:13, 24;…Opp. τὸ πνεῦμα…Gal 3:3; 5:16, 17ab; 6:8ab.” will reap corruption#tn Or “destruction.” from the flesh,#tn See the note on the previous occurrence of the word “flesh” in this verse. but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So we must not grow weary#tn Or “not become discouraged,” “not lose heart” (L&N 25.288). in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.#tn Or “if we do not become extremely weary,” “if we do not give out,” “if we do not faint from exhaustion” (L&N 23.79). 10 So then,#tn There is a double connective here that cannot be easily preserved in English: “consequently therefore,” emphasizing the conclusion of what Paul has been arguing. whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.#tn Grk “to those who are members of the family of [the] faith.”
Final Instructions and Benediction
11 See what big letters I make as I write to you with my own hand!
12 Those who want to make a good showing in external matters#tn Grk “in the flesh.” L&N 88.236 translates the phrase “those who force you to be circumcised are those who wish to make a good showing in external matters.” are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so#tn Grk “to be circumcised, only.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started with the words “They do so,” which were supplied to make a complete English sentence. only to avoid being persecuted#tc ‡ Grk “so that they will not be persecuted.” The indicative after ἵνα μή (Jina mh) is unusual (though not unexampled elsewhere in the NT), making it the harder reading. The evidence is fairly evenly split between the indicative διώκονται (diwkontai; Ì46 A C F G K L P 0278 6 81 104 326 629 1175 1505 pm) and the subjunctive διώκωνται (diwkwntai; א B D Ψ 33 365 1739 pm), with a slight preference for the subjunctive. However, since scribes would tend to change the indicative to a subjunctive due to syntactical requirements, the internal evidence is decidedly on the side of the indicative, suggesting that it is original. for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.#tn Or “boast about you in external matters,” “in the outward rite” (cf. v. 12). 14 But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which#tn Or perhaps, “through whom,” referring to the Lord Jesus Christ rather than the cross. the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For#tc The phrase “in Christ Jesus” is found after “For” in some mss (א A C D F G 0278 1881 Ï lat bo), but lacking in Ì46 B Ψ 33 1175 1505 1739* and several fathers. The longer reading probably represents a harmonization to Gal 5:6. neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for#tn Grk “is.” anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation!#tn Grk “but a new creation”; the words “the only thing that matters” have been supplied to reflect the implied contrast with the previous clause (see also Gal 5:6). 16 And all who will behave#tn The same Greek verb, στοιχέω (stoicew), occurs in Gal 5:25. in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.#tn The word “and” (καί) can be interpreted in two ways: (1) It could be rendered as “also” which would indicate that two distinct groups are in view, namely “all who will behave in accordance with this rule” and “the Israel of God.” Or (2) it could be rendered “even,” which would indicate that “all who behave in accordance with this rule” are “the Israel of God.” In other words, in this latter view, “even” = “that is.”
17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.#tn Paul is probably referring to scars from wounds received in the service of Jesus, although the term στίγμα (stigma) may imply ownership and suggest these scars served as brands (L&N 8.55; 33.481; 90.84).
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be#tn Or “is.” No verb is stated, but a wish (“be”) rather than a declarative statement (“is”) is most likely in a concluding greeting such as this. with your spirit, brothers and sisters.#tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11. Amen.
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Galatians 6
6
Nothing but the Cross
1-3Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
4-5Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
6Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience.
7-8Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.
9-10So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
11-13Now, in these last sentences, I want to emphasize in the bold scrawls of my personal handwriting the immense importance of what I have written to you. These people who are attempting to force the ways of circumcision on you have only one motive: They want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ’s suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don’t keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws they do observe. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible!
14-16For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!
17Quite frankly, I don’t want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus.
18May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes!
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.