Galatians 6
New King James Version
Bear and Share Burdens
6 Brethren, if a man is [a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of (A)gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 (B)Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill (C)the law of Christ. 3 For (D)if anyone thinks himself to be something, when (E)he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But (F)let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and (G)not in another. 5 For (H)each one shall bear his own load.
Be Generous and Do Good
6 (I)Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for (J)whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap (K)everlasting life. 9 And (L)let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap (M)if we do not lose heart. 10 (N)Therefore, as we have opportunity, (O)let us do good to all, (P)especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Glory Only in the Cross
11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, (Q)only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the (R)cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by [b]whom the world has been crucified to me, and (S)I to the world. 15 For (T)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Blessing and a Plea
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Footnotes
- Galatians 6:1 caught
- Galatians 6:14 Or which, the cross
Galatians 6
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Carry One Another’s Burdens
6 Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle(A) spirit,(B) watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted.(C) 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.(D) 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing,(E) he deceives himself. 4 But each person should examine his own work,(F) and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. 5 For each person will have to carry his own load.
6 The one who is taught the message must share(G) all his good things with the teacher. 7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit(H) will reap eternal life(I) from the Spirit. 9 So we must not get tired(J) of doing good,(K) for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work(L) for the good(M) of all, especially for those who belong to the household(N) of faith.(O)
Concluding Exhortation
11 Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting. 12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh(P) are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised(Q)—but only to avoid being persecuted(R) for the cross(S) of Christ. 13 For even the circumcised don’t keep(T) the law themselves; however, they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. 14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. 15 For[a] both circumcision and uncircumcision(U) mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.(V) 16 May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy to the Israel(W) of God!
17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body scars for the cause of Jesus.(X) 18 Brothers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.(Y) Amen.
Footnotes
- Galatians 6:15 Other mss add in Christ Jesus
Galatians 6
New American Standard Bible
Bear One Another’s Burdens
6 (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. 2 (E)Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill (F)the law of Christ. 3 For (G)if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 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. 5 For (J)each one will bear his own load.
6 (K)The one who is taught (L)the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7 (M)Do not be deceived, (N)God is not mocked; for (O)whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. 8 (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. 9 (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
- Galatians 6:4 Or in regard to
- Galatians 6:4 Or in regard to
- Galatians 6:10 Or as
- Galatians 6:13 Two early mss have been
- Galatians 6:13 Or law
- Galatians 6:14 Lit may it never be for
- Galatians 6:14 Or whom
- Galatians 6:15 Or creature
- Galatians 6:17 I.e., scars and other evidence of persecution
Galatians 6
English Standard Version
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 fulfill (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 neighbor. 5 For (J)each will have to bear his own load.
6 (K)Let the one who is taught the word 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!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson