Text -- Galatians 6:1-9 (NET)

Support One Another

6:1 Brothers 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. 6:2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 6:4 Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else. 6:5 For each one will carry his own load. 6:6 Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it. 6:7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, 6:8 because 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. 6:9 So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Gal 6:1

¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.

² tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense, referring to both men and women.

³ tn Or “some transgression” (L&N 88.297).

⁴ sn Who are spiritual refers to people who are controlled and directed by God’s Spirit.

⁵ tn Or “with a gentle spirit” or “gently.”

⁶ tn Grk “taking careful notice.”

NET Notes: Gal 6:4

¹ tn Or “determine the genuineness of.”

² tn Grk “he will have a reason for boasting.”

³ tn Or “and not in regard to.” The idea of comparison is implied in the context.

NET Notes: Gal 6:5

¹ tn Or perhaps, “each one must carry.” A number of modern translations treat βαστάσει (bastasei) as an imperatival future.

NET Notes: Gal 6:6

¹ tn Or “instructs,” “imparts.”

NET Notes: Gal 6:7

¹ 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.”

² tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense, referring to both men and women.

NET Notes: Gal 6:8

¹ 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.”

² tn Or “destruction.”

³ tn See the note on the previous occurrence of the word “flesh” in this verse.

NET Notes: Gal 6:9

¹ tn Or “not become discouraged,” “not lose heart” (L&N 25.288).

² 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).