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Doing Good to All

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit(A) should restore(B) that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.(C) If anyone thinks they are something(D) when they are not, they deceive themselves.(E) Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,(F) without comparing themselves to someone else,(G) for each one should carry their own load.(H) Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.(I)

Do not be deceived:(J) God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.(K) Whoever sows to please their flesh,(L) from the flesh will reap destruction;(M) whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.(N) Let us not become weary in doing good,(O) for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.(P) 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good(Q) to all people, especially to those who belong to the family(R) of believers.

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!(S)

12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh(T) are trying to compel you to be circumcised.(U) The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted(V) for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law,(W) yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.(X) 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,(Y) through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.(Z) 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;(AA) what counts is the new creation.(AB) 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to[b] the Israel of God.

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks(AC) of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ(AD) be with your spirit,(AE) brothers and sisters. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 6:14 Or whom
  2. Galatians 6:16 Or rule and to

Bear One Another’s Burdens

(A)Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are (B)spiritual are to (C)restore such a person (D)in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. (E)Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill (F)the law of Christ. For (G)if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must (H)examine his own work, and then he will have reason for (I)boasting, but [a]to himself alone, and not [b]to another. For (J)each one will bear his own load.

(K)The one who is taught (L)the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. (M)Do not be deceived, (N)God is not mocked; for (O)whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. (P)For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap (Q)destruction from the flesh, but (R)the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. (S)Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we (T)do not become weary. 10 So then, [c](U)while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the (V)household of (W)the faith.

11 See with what large letters I have written to you (X)with my own hand! 12 All who want (Y)to make a good showing in the flesh try to (Z)compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they (AA)will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who [d]are circumcised do not even (AB)keep [e]the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may (AC)boast in your flesh. 14 But (AD)[f]far be it from me to boast, (AE)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, (AF)through [g]which the world has been crucified to me, and (AG)I to the world. 15 For (AH)neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a (AI)new [h]creation. 16 And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the (AJ)Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the [i](AK)marks of Jesus.

18 (AL)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be (AM)with your spirit, (AN)brothers and sisters. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 6:4 Or in regard to
  2. Galatians 6:4 Or in regard to
  3. Galatians 6:10 Or as
  4. Galatians 6:13 Two early mss have been
  5. Galatians 6:13 Or law
  6. Galatians 6:14 Lit may it never be for
  7. Galatians 6:14 Or whom
  8. Galatians 6:15 Or creature
  9. Galatians 6:17 I.e., scars and other evidence of persecution

Help Each Other

My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don't be tempted yourself. You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand.

If you think you are better than others, when you really aren't, you are wrong. Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others. We each must carry our own load.

Share every good thing you have with anyone who teaches you what God has said.

You cannot fool God, so don't make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. Don't get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don't give up. 10 We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.

Final Warnings

11 You can see what big letters I make when I write with my own hand.

12 Those people who are telling you to get circumcised are only trying to show how important they are. And they don't want to get into trouble for preaching about the cross of Christ. 13 They are circumcised, but they don't obey the Law of Moses. All they want is to brag about having you circumcised. 14 But I will never brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his cross, the world is dead as far as I am concerned, and I am dead as far as the world is concerned.

15 It doesn't matter if you are circumcised or not. All that matters is that you are a new person.

16 If you follow this rule, you will belong to God's true people. God will treat you with undeserved kindness and will bless you with peace.

17 (A) On my own body are scars that prove I belong to Christ Jesus. So I don't want anyone to bother me anymore.

18 My friends, I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you! Amen.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if any one thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each man will have to bear his own load.

Let him who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches.

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Final Admonitions and Benediction

11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.

17 Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 6:14 Or through whom

Bear One Another's Burdens

My friends, if someone is caught in any kind of wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should set him right; but you must do it in a gentle way. And keep an eye on yourselves, so that you will not be tempted, too. Help carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will obey[a] the law of Christ. If you think you are something when you really are nothing, you are only deceiving yourself. You should each judge your own conduct. If it is good, then you can be proud of what you yourself have done, without having to compare it with what someone else has done. For each of you have to carry your own load.

If you are being taught the Christian message, you should share all the good things you have with your teacher.

Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. You will reap exactly what you plant. If you plant in the field of your natural desires, from it you will gather the harvest of death; if you plant in the field of the Spirit, from the Spirit you will gather the harvest of eternal life. So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest. 10 So then, as often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith.

Final Warning and Greeting

11 See what big letters I make as I write to you now with my own hand! 12 The people who are trying to force you to be circumcised are the ones who want to show off and boast about external matters. They do it, however, only so that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Even those who practice circumcision do not obey the Law; they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast that you submitted to this physical ceremony. 14 As for me, however, I will boast only about the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; for by means of his cross the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world. 15 It does not matter at all whether or not one is circumcised; what does matter is being a new creature. 16 As for those who follow this rule in their lives, may peace and mercy be with them—with them and with all of God's people!

17 To conclude: let no one give me any more trouble, because the scars I have on my body show that I am the slave of Jesus.

18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, my friends. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 6:2 you will obey; some manuscripts have obey.