Galatians 6
English Standard Version Anglicised
Bear One Another's Burdens
6 Brothers,[a] (A)if anyone is caught in any transgression, (B)you who are spiritual should restore him in (C)a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 (D)Bear one another's burdens, and (E)so fulfil (F)the law of Christ. 3 For (G)if anyone thinks he is something, (H)when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one (I)test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbour. 5 For (J)each will have to bear his own load.
6 (K)One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 (L)Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for (M)whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For (N)the one who sows to his own flesh (O)will from the flesh reap corruption, but (P)the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And (Q)let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, (R)if we do not give up. 10 So then, (S)as we have opportunity, let us (T)do good to everyone, and especially to those who are (U)of the household of faith.
Final Warning and Benediction
11 See with what large letters I am writing to you (V)with my own hand. 12 (W)It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh (X)who would force you to be circumcised, and only (Y)in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast (Z)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which[b] the world (AA)has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For (AB)neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but (AC)a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, (AD)peace and mercy be upon them, and upon (AE)the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 (AF)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be (AG)with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Footnotes
- Galatians 6:1 Or Brothers and sisters; also verse 18
- Galatians 6:14 Or through whom
Galatians 6
The Message
Nothing but the Cross
6 1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
4-5 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
6 Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience.
7-8 Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.
9-10 So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
11-13 Now, in these last sentences, I want to emphasize in the bold scrawls of my personal handwriting the immense importance of what I have written to you. These people who are attempting to force the ways of circumcision on you have only one motive: They want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ’s suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don’t keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws they do observe. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible!
14-16 For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!
17 Quite frankly, I don’t want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus.
18 May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes!
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson