Galatians 6:1-11

Support One Another

6:1 Brothers and sisters, ¹  if a person ²  is discovered in some sin, ³  you who are spiritual ⁴  restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. ⁵  Pay close attention ⁶  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 ⁷  his own work. Then he can take pride ⁸  in himself and not compare himself with ⁹  someone else. 6:5 For each one will carry ¹⁰  his own load.

6:6 Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches ¹¹  it. 6:7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. ¹²  For a person ¹³  will reap what he sows, 6:8 because the person who sows to his own flesh ¹⁴  will reap corruption ¹⁵  from the flesh, ¹⁶  but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 6:9 So we must not grow weary ¹⁷  in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁸  6:10 So then, ¹⁹  whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith. ²⁰ 

Final Instructions and Benediction

6:11 See what big letters I make as I write to you with my own hand!

[6:1]  ¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.

[6:1]  ² tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense, referring to both men and women.

[6:1]  ³ tn Or “some transgression” (L&N 88.297).

[6:1]  ⁴ sn Who are spiritual refers to people who are controlled and directed by God’s Spirit.

[6:1]  ⁵ tn Or “with a gentle spirit” or “gently.”

[6:1]  ⁶ tn Grk “taking careful notice.”

[6:4]  ⁷ tn Or “determine the genuineness of.”

[6:4]  ⁸ tn Grk “he will have a reason for boasting.”

[6:4]  ⁹ tn Or “and not in regard to.” The idea of comparison is implied in the context.

[6:5]  ¹⁰ tn Or perhaps, “each one must carry.” A number of modern translations treat βαστάσει (bastasei) as an imperatival future.

[6:6]  ¹¹ tn Or “instructs,” “imparts.”

[6:7]  ¹² 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.”

[6:7]  ¹³ tn Here ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense, referring to both men and women.

[6:8]  ¹⁴ 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.”

[6:8]  ¹⁵ tn Or “destruction.”

[6:8]  ¹⁶ tn See the note on the previous occurrence of the word “flesh” in this verse.

[6:9]  ¹⁷ tn Or “not become discouraged,” “not lose heart” (L&N 25.288).

[6:9]  ¹⁸ 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).

[6:10]  ¹⁹ 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.

[6:10]  ²⁰ tn Grk “to those who are members of the family of [the] faith.”