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Galatians 6
New Catholic Bible
Galatians 6
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 6
The Law of Christ.[a] 1 Brethren, if anyone is detected committing a transgression, you who are spiritual must set him right in a spirit of gentleness. Meanwhile, you should take care so that you yourselves are not tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
3 If anyone thinks he is something when in fact he is nothing, he is only deceiving himself. 4 Each person must examine his own work. Then he will have reason to boast with regard to himself alone and not in comparison with someone else. 5 For everyone has his own burden to bear.
6 Anyone who is being taught should give his teacher a share in all his possessions. 7 Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A person will reap only what he sows. 8 The one who sows in his flesh will reap a harvest of corruption, but the one who sows in the Spirit will reap from the Spirit the reward of eternal life.
9 Let us never grow weary in doing what is right, for if we do not give up, we will reap our harvest in due time. 10 Therefore, while we have the opportunity, let us labor for the good of all, but especially for those members of the household of the faith.
Conclusion[b]
11 The Cross of Christ, Our True Boast. Observe what large letters I make when I am writing to you in my own handwriting. 12 It is those who want to gain human approval who are trying to compel you to be circumcised, their sole purpose being to escape persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the Law. They want you to be circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
14 May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world is crucified to me and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is important, but only a new creation.
16 Blessing and a Plea. May peace and mercy be given to all who follow this rule, and to the Israel of God.[c]
17 In the future, let no one make trouble for me, for I bear the marks of Jesus branded on my body.
18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Footnotes
- Galatians 6:1 To the spiritual urge that leads the believer to live in solidarity with others and in service to them, Paul gives the name law of Christ (6:2), law of faith (Rom 3:27), and law of the Spirit of life (Rom 8:2).
- Galatians 6:11 Paul himself underlines the importance of the Letter (v. 11) and for one last time situates the problem of the Galatians before the mystery of the cross. There is an old world, that of circumcisions and human successes, and a new world, in which God calls the new Israel, i.e., all Christians, true children of Abraham. Christians belong to this world. For them, the cross is something to be shared. They agree to suffer for Christ and with him. It involves more suffering than being circumcised, but they have become “new” people (2 Cor 5:17), delivered from the world, i.e., sin. There is no other way of salvation except the cross of Christ, nor any other assurance before God. Paul knows this from experience, for he bears in his body the traces of the blows received in the exercise of his missionary work (2 Cor 6:5; 11:23-27).
- Galatians 6:16 The Israel of God: i.e., the Church (see Rom 9:6f) as opposed to Israel according to the flesh (see 1 Cor 10:18).
Galatians 6
New International Version
Galatians 6
New International Version
Doing Good to All
6 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. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.(C) 3 If anyone thinks they are something(D) when they are not, they deceive themselves.(E) 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,(F) without comparing themselves to someone else,(G) 5 for each one should carry their own load.(H) 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.(I)
7 Do not be deceived:(J) God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.(K) 8 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) 9 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
- Galatians 6:14 Or whom
- Galatians 6:16 Or rule and to
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