Humanitext Reader

New Testament · Galatians §6.1-6.18

Bearing Burdens and Boasting in the Cross

Passage 6 of 6 · Greek

Summary

Paul encourages the Galatians to bear one another's burdens, fulfill their responsibilities, and continue doing good in the Spirit, concluding the letter in his own hand by emphasizing that only the cross of Christ and the new creation matter.

§6.1Ἀδελφοί, ἐὰν καὶ προλημφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτώματι, ὑμεῖς οἱ πνευματικοὶ καταρτίζετε τὸν τοιοῦτον ἐν πνεύματι πραΰτητος, σκοπῶν σεαυτόν, μὴ καὶ σὺ πειρασθῇς.
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.
§6.2Ἀλλήλων τὰ βάρη βαστάζετε, καὶ οὕτως ἀναπληρώσατε τὸν νόμον τοῦ χριστοῦ.
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
§6.3εἰ γὰρ δοκεῖ τις εἶναί τι μηδὲν ὤν, φρεναπατᾷ ἑαυτόν·
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
§6.4τὸ δὲ ἔργον ἑαυτοῦ δοκιμαζέτω [ἕκαστος], καὶ τότε εἰς ἑαυτὸν μόνον τὸ καύχημα ἕξει καὶ οὐκ εἰς τὸν ἕτερον,
But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.
§6.5ἕκαστος γὰρ τὸ ἴδιον φορτίον βαστάσει.
For each will have to bear his own load.
§6.6Κοινωνείτω δὲ ὁ κατηχούμενος τὸν λόγον τῷ κατηχοῦντι ἐν πᾶσιν ἀγαθοῖς.
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
§6.7Μὴ πλανᾶσθε, θεὸς οὐ μυκτηρίζεται· ὃ γὰρ ἐὰν σπείρῃ ἄνθρωπος, τοῦτο καὶ θερίσει·
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
§6.8ὅτι ὁ σπείρων εἰς τὴν σάρκα ἑαυτοῦ ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς θερίσει φθοράν, ὁ δὲ σπείρων εἰς τὸ πνεῦμα ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος θερίσει ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
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.
§6.9τὸ δὲ καλὸν ποιοῦντες μὴ ἐνκακῶμεν, καιρῷ γὰρ ἰδίῳ θερίσομεν μὴ ἐκλυόμενοι.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
§6.10Ἄρα οὖν ὡς καιρὸν ἔχωμεν, ἐργαζώμεθα τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς πάντας, μάλιστα δὲ πρὸς τοὺς οἰκείους τῆς πίστεως.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
§6.11Ἴδετε πηλίκοις ὑμῖν γράμμασιν ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί.
See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
§6.12Ὅσοι θέλουσιν εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί, οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, μόνον ἵνα τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ χριστοῦ [Ἰησοῦ] — μὴ διώκωνται·
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.
§6.13οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ περιτεμνόμενοι αὐτοὶ νόμον φυλάσσουσιν, ἀλλὰ θέλουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι ἵνα ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ σαρκὶ καυχήσωνται.
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.
§6.14ἐμοὶ δὲ μὴ γένοιτο καυχᾶσθαι εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, διʼ οὗ ἐμοὶ κόσμος ἐσταύρωται κἀγὼ κόσμῳ.
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.
§6.15οὔτε γὰρ περιτομή τι ἔστιν οὔτε ἀκροβυστία, ἀλλὰ καινὴ κτίσις.
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
§6.16καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, "εἰρήνη" ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ "ἐπὶ τον Ἰσραὴλ" τοῦ θεοῦ.
And as for all who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
§6.17Τοῦ λοιποῦ κόπους μοι μηδεὶς παρεχέτω, ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω.
From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
§6.18Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου [ἡμῶν] Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί·
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers.
ἀμήν.
Amen.

Notes

  1. §6.1ἐὰν καὶ προλημφθῇ — Meaning "if anyone is caught/surprised in..." The conjunction καί placed directly before the verb emphasizes the contingency (or concessions like "even if"), and the passive προλημφθῇ indicates being caught unawares or overtaken by a sin.
  2. §6.12τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ χριστοῦ [Ἰησοῦ] — μὴ διώκωνται — Clarifies the function of the dative τῷ σταυρῷ. This is a dative of cause, indicating "on account of" or "because of" the cross of Christ, referring to being persecuted for preaching the cross.
  3. §6.14διʼ οὗ — The antecedent of the relative pronoun οὗ can be either "Lord Jesus Christ" or "the cross" (σταυρός), both being masculine singular. In this context, it is more natural to refer to "the cross" in which Paul boasts as the means through which the world has been crucified to him, and this translation follows that view.
  4. §6.16καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ — The conjunction καί here can be interpreted either as additive ("and upon the Israel of God"), distinguishing the "Israel of God" from those who walk by this rule, or as explicative ("even/namely upon the Israel of God"), equating the two groups. This translation adopts the additive/distributive use ("and") based on the structure.

Cite this passage

New Testament, Galatians §6.1-6.18. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0031.tlg009.humanitext-grc2:6.1-6.18

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