²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.²⁶Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

6My friends,^* if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.²Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil^* the law of Christ.³For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves.⁴All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride.⁵For all must carry their own loads.

6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.

7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.⁸If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.⁹So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.¹⁰So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

Today I’ve added my own translation of this passage and continued it to the end of the letter

scrap of papyrus letter

GALATIANS 6

“Brothers, even if people are caught out in some wrong-doing, those of you who have an understanding should restore them with a gentle attitude, keeping an eye on yourselves, in case you also are tempted.  

Lift one another’s loads, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if you think you’re quite something when you’re nothing, you’re fooling yourself, but each of you should put his own work to the test. Then you can be happy with yourself, as you are, and not in comparison with someone else. For “everyone must shift his own weight.” 

Students of the message are to share their resources with their teachers. Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for “you will reap whatever you’ve sown.” So the one who sows in the field of flesh and blood, will from flesh and blood reap decay; but the one who sows in the field of the Spirit, will reap the life of the age to come. Let’s not grow “weary in well-doing”, for we shall reap, if we don’t weaken. So then, while it is the right season, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those in the household of the faith. 

See with what huge letters I’m writing to you, in my own hand! 

Those who are pressing you to be snipped, want to make a good show in flesh and blood, with the one aim of not being bothered by the cross of Christ. In fact, those who have been snipped, do not fully observe the Jewish law themselves, but want to have you snipped, so that they can boast about your flesh and blood. God forbid that I should boast about anything!-except the cross of our Lord Jesus Messiah, by which the world has been killed off for me, and I for the world. For neither snipping nor foreskins are the issue, but new creation. 

Those who will march to this command, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon God’s Israel. 

From now on, let nobody give me grief, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus. 

May the kindness of the Lord Jesus Messiah be with your spirit, brothers. Amen” 

the brand-marks of Jesus

So Paul  brings this blunt letter to a close with an appropriately blunt message, “Don’t talk to me about bodily markings, I’ve got plenty of them, real ones, made by the whippings I’ve taken for Jesus!”

He prefaces this final flourish with wise words about the duty to care for others and the need to take responsibility for one’s own life. (lifting loads and shifting weight). He again employs his distinction between flesh/blood and spirit, (see blog 960) to remind his readers what is fruitful and what is not; not just their actions but the purpose and direction of them, will determine their fruitfulness. Then he has a final go at the “snippers” pointing out that wanting to “become a religious Jew” puts a person on the other side of the line from Jesus Messiah who was hounded out of Jewish religion on to the cross. Being proud of one’s religious status is the opposite of Jesus who gave up all status and worldly safety, entrusting his life to God. Those who trust him, Paul says, give up worldly life so that their lives may be recreated by God, who raised Jesus from death. The absolute rigour of this aspect of Paul’s gospel –  dying with Jesus Messiah in order to be made alive with him-is never softened in his writings. It was well expressed in 1682 by William Penn while a prisoner in the Tower of London, “No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.”  This is not a call to  seek suffering; it is rather,  willingness to take the decisions we ought to take, regardless of any suffering which might result, especially the suffering that may come through care of others. Those who have lived in this way are the best people I’ve known.

So we come to end of the letter to Galatians. It is an angry and sometimes bitter diatribe against religion and for the way of Jesus. In spite of its radicalism, or is it because of its radicalism, it remains one of the greatest expressions of Christian faith.