Galatians — Chapter 6

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1Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

2Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else.

5For each one should carry his own load.

6Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.

7Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.

8The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

9Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

11See what large letters I am using to write to you with my own hand!

12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.

13For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

14But as for me, 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.

15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.

16Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.

17From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

3For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

4But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

5For every man shall bear his own burden.

6Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

11Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

12As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

13For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

14But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

17From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

18Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

1Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2Bear ye one another`s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

3For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

4But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor.

5For each man shall bear his own burden.

6But let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.

9And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

10So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.

11See with how large letters I write unto you with mine own hand.

12As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

13For not even they who receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

14But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

15For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

16And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace [be] upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

17Henceforth, let no man trouble me; for I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus.

18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

1Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.

2Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

3For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else.

5For each one will carry his own load.

6Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it.

7Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows,

8because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

9So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.

10So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.

11See what big letters I make as I write to you with my own hand!

12Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

13For 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.

14But 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.

15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation!

16And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.

17From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.

18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

1Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.

2Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

3For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4But let each man examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast in himself, and not in someone else.

5For each man will bear his own burden.

6But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.

7Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

8For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

9Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up.

10So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

11See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand.

12As many as desire to make a good impression in the flesh compel you to be circumcised; just so they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

13For even they who receive circumcision don’t keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.

14But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

15For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

16As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s Israel.

17From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body.

18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

Paul instructs believers to gently restore anyone caught in sin, watching themselves, and to bear one another's burdens in fulfillment of the law of Christ, while still taking responsibility for their own work (vv. 1-5). He urges sharing good things with teachers and warns that God is not mocked — whatever one sows, one reaps, so believers should not grow weary in doing good, especially toward fellow believers (vv. 6-10). Paul contrasts false teachers who push circumcision to avoid persecution and boast in the flesh with his own determination to boast only in the cross of Christ, through which the world is crucified to him (vv. 11-16). He closes by pointing to the marks he bears for Jesus and blessing them with grace (vv. 17-18).

Authorship & Background

Author: Paul (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 6 concludes Galatians with practical instructions for community life (vv.1-10) and a final summary in Paul's own handwriting (vv.11-18). Having established freedom from the Law (chs.1-4) and life in the Spirit (ch.5), Paul now shows what Spirit-led community looks like: restoring the fallen, bearing burdens, sowing to the Spirit, and doing good.
Classification: Epistle — Pauline
Key Themes: A fallen brother restored gently by those aware of their own vulnerability, burdens borne as the law of Christ rather than an optional kindness, sowing to the flesh or to the Spirit named as the whole of the choice, Paul's own large handwriting offered as proof he wrote this closing himself, and marks of persecution claimed as the only credentials that matter
Restoring the Fallen (vv.1-5): Those who are "spiritual" (Spirit-led, ch.5) should restore a brother caught in sin — gently, humbly, aware of their own vulnerability. "Bear ye one another's burdens" (v.2) fulfills "the law of Christ" — the law of love (5:14).
Sowing and Reaping (vv.6-10): The universal principle: you reap what you sow. Sow to the flesh = reap corruption. Sow to the Spirit = reap eternal life. "Be not weary in well doing" (v.9) — the harvest is coming.
Paul's Final Words (vv.11-18): Paul takes the pen himself ("how large a letter" — likely due to poor eyesight, cf. 4:15). He exposes the Judaizers' true motive: avoiding persecution (v.12). His only boast: the cross (v.14). The only thing that matters: being a "new creature" (v.15). He bears the "marks of the Lord Jesus" — scars from persecution (v.17).

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik covers burden-bearing, sowing and reaping, Paul's autograph, and the conclusion of the epistle.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Galatians 5-6 | Cut The Whole Thing Off | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Galatians 6:1-10 - Don't Give Up Doing Good
David Guzik

Galatians 6:11-18 - Dead to the World
David Guzik

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Galatians -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Restoring With Gentleness (v.1) — Paul instructs spiritually mature believers to restore someone caught in sin gently, aware of their own vulnerability to fall. Is your instinct toward a struggling brother judgment, or humble restoration?
  • Bearing One Another's Burdens (v.2) — Carrying each other's weight fulfills the law of love that Christ taught. Who around you is carrying a load you could help shoulder?
  • You Reap What You Sow (v.7) — Paul warns that God cannot be mocked; whatever is sown, in the flesh or the Spirit, is what gets harvested. Looking honestly at your habits and choices, what harvest are you currently planting?
  • Don't Grow Weary in Doing Good (v.9) — Paul promises a harvest will come to those who don't give up doing good. Where are you tempted to quit before God's timing brings the results?
  • Boasting Only in the Cross (v.14) — Paul refuses to boast in anything but what Christ did on the cross. What do you tend to take pride in instead — achievement, morality, reputation?
  • Living as a New Creation (v.15) — Paul says the only thing that ultimately matters is being made new in Christ. Are you living out of that new identity, or still trying to patch up the old one?