Page 417 - Demo

GALATIANS 
6Life in the Community of Christ.*
1Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted.a 2Bear one another’s burdens,b and so you will ful ll the law of Christ.* 3c For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is deluding himself. 4* Each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast with regard to himself alone, and not with regard to someone else; 5for each will bear his own load.d
6e One who is being instructed in the word should share all good things with his instructor.* 7Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows, 8because the one who sows for his esh will reap corruption from the esh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.f 9Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.g 10So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all,h but especially to those who belong to the family of the faith.*
6:1
Sin will continue to be a reality in the Christian community. But there are good ways and bad ways of confronting the presence of sin. When we need to act, we should do so gently, not self-righteously. We need to start with acceptance of a simple fact: we are all sinners.
6:10
Paul speaks with urgent clarity. The imminence of Christ’s return should not make us lazy, but eager to “do good to all.”
a. [6:1] Mt 18:15; Jas 5:19 / 1 Cor 10:12–13.
b. [6:2] Col 3:13 / 1 Cor 9:21.
c. [6:3–4] 1 Cor 3:18; 8:2; 2 Cor 12:11.
d. [6:5] Rom 14:12.
e. [6:6] 1 Cor 9:14.
f. [6:8] Prv 11:18; Rom 8:6, 13.
g. [6:9] 2 Thes 3:13; Heb 12:1–3.
h. [6:10] 1 Thes 5:15.
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* [6:1–10] The ethical exhortations begun at Gal 5:1 continue with a variety of admonitions to the community (brothers: see note on Gal 1:2). Nearly every sentence contains a separate item of practical advice; the faith and freedom of the gospel underlie each maxim. Tensions and temptation within communal life have previously been addressed in Gal 5:15, 26 and Gal 6:1 continues with a case in which a person is caught in some transgression such as those in Gal 5:19–21; cf. Gal 2:17.
* [6:2] The law of Christ: cf. Rom 8:2; 1 Cor 9:21; Gal 5:14. The principle of love for others is meant. To bear one another’s burdens is to “serve one another through love” (Gal 5:13).
* [6:4–5] Self-examination is the cure for self-deception. Compare what you are with what
you were before, and give the glory to God; cf. Rom 6:19–22. Load: used elsewhere of a
soldier’s pack. Correcting one’s own conduct avoids burdening others with it.
* [6:6] Implies oral instruction in the faith by catechists; these are to be remunerated for their
service; cf. Rom 15:27.
* [6:10] The family of the faith: the Christian household or church. Doing good has a
universal object (to all), but the local community makes speci c the reality of those to be served.