Doing Good to All
1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other'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 actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.
6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Not Circumcision but a New Creation
11See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[b] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.
17Finally, 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.
Footnotes:
Galatians 6:8 Or his flesh, from the flesh
Galatians 6:14 Or whom
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Setting out to process the Bible, chapter by chapter, out loud and in a community, hoping that through this, we might all grow closer to the hero of the story.
About Me
Links of Note
Blog Archive
Receiving Comments Through E-mail
If for interaction, or curiosity purposes, you would like to receive the same e-mails I get when a new comment is posted on any blog on this sight, simply send an e-mail to nathan.kemper@gmail.com and ask to be added to the comment forwarding list. Make sure you are clear which e-mail address you would like the comments sent to.
3 comments:
This ends the book of Galatians. Apparently, no one had any discussion ideas from this book. Maybe no one read it. Either way, I'm wondering if there are any suggestions for the next book.
Topic suggestions or book suggestions welcome. Just comment here or e-mail me.
OK, I'm way behind in reading. This chapter is over my head much of the time. I'n having difficuly relating the words used (circumcision and related phrases) with the intended understanding.
I can grasp the concepts of avoiding wrong teachings, earthly ways and desires, and understand that following the law (Judaism) is not the way but following Christ is.
What are the deeper meanings of this chapter? Why so much focus on circumcision, is it that focusing on complying with the law is not important but following Christ's teachings are? That seems too simple of an interpreation, I know there should be more but, am having difficulty seeing it.
What about the allegories of offspring of slavery versus free women (slavery to earthly ways versus freedom by following Christ)?
I'm confused and tired. I need to reread this again later.
The "simple interpretation" is pretty accurate. At the time of the early church (just after Christ's death) one of the big questions that Jews were forced to answer is what they would do with the Gentiles.
Does a Gentile first need to become a Jew before they could become a Christian? The answer of many of the day was that they did, so they were asking all who wanted to be Christians to first comply with the Mosaic Covenant (circumcision and the law) and not just the New Covenant.
Paul is emphatic in pointing out that the New Covenant replaces the Old Covenant and is not just an addition to it. There is no need to feel bound by the Old Covenant, or this signs of it (circumcision) but instead to find yourself in complete submission to the New Covenant found with Christ.
Post a Comment