Charles Ellicott Commentary Galatians 6

Brethren.—The unfortunate conventional use of this word rather tends to weaken our sense of the delicacy and earnestness of this appeal.

If a man is overtaken.—If a man is even surprised, or detected; not only caught, but caught red-handed, in the very act, before he can escape. A special expression is used in order to aggravate the circumstances of the detection. No matter what these circumstances may be, one who is truly spiritual will still deal gently with the offender.

You who are spiritual.—This refers to what had been said in the last chapter (Galatians 6:16–18). St. Paul assumes that all Christians are animated by the Spirit of God. If, while claiming to be better than others and to condescend towards them, they were not so animated, their presumption would be seen in all the more glaring light.

Restore.—A good translation. The idea is that of correcting with no feeling of resentment or thought of punishment, but with a single eye to the amendment of the offender. The same word is used for “mending their nets” in Matthew 4:21 and Mark 1:19. It is also found as a medical term for setting dislocated limbs.

In the spirit of meekness.—“Spirit” here refers to “you who are spiritual” in the preceding clause. It does not mean exactly “the Holy Spirit,” but “such a state of mind as is produced by the operation of the Spirit.” One characteristic of a truly spiritual state is “meekness.” (Compare to Galatians 5:23, where “meekness” is mentioned expressly as one of the “fruits of the Spirit.”)

Considering yourself.—In other words, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” You, too, are liable to fall, and then you would be glad of the same gentle restoration.

On verses 1-5:

Be charitable to the fallen, for you, too, may fall yourselves. Sympathize with each other. Indulge in no delusions as to your own superiority. Each of you look to your own work, and see that it is sound. You will find enough to do without entering into idle comparisons with others.

Galatians 6:2–3 are a sort of repetition, with some expansion, of Galatians 6:1. Deal considerately and kindly with the fallen, for you may fall. Bear each other’s burdens, for to claim any superiority to them is mere delusion.

It has been acutely suggested that the Apostle’s tone in this passage has been affected by the recent occurrence at Corinth, where he had to warn the Corinthians against over-severity (see 2 Corinthians 2:6–8).

Bear ye one another’s burdens.—Take them upon yourselves by kindly sympathy. Our Lord Himself was said to “bear” the physical infirmities of those whom He healed (Matthew 8:17: He bare our sicknesses.).

So fulfil.—The reading here is somewhat doubtful, and the balance of authorities is interesting. On the one hand, the Received Text, adopted in our version, is supported by a large majority of the manuscripts; on the other hand, the reading, ye shall fulfil, is found in the Vatican and two good Greco-Latin manuscripts, but also has an almost unanimous support from the versions.

Several of these versions were composed at a very early date and necessarily represent a wide geographical dispersion. Furthermore, the manuscript authority for this reading—though small in quantity, is good in quality—also represents evidence from widely separated regions. Finally, the internal evidence, or probabilities of corruption, also favors this reading. Therefore, on the whole, it seems to have the greater claim to acceptance.

The meaning is that by showing sympathy to others in their distress—whether physical, mental, or moral—the Christian will best fulfil that “new commandment” bequeathed to him by his Master: the “law of love” (1 John 3:23).

Practically, these two manuscripts can only count as one, as both seem to have been copied from the same original.

He deceives himself.—A peculiar word, perhaps coined by St. Paul: puts himself under an hallucination; persuades himself of the existence of that which has no reality.

Prove.—Test, or examine, by reference to an objective standard. The word is used especially for the assaying of metals.

Rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.—Rather, he shall have his ground of boasting with reference to himself alone, and not with reference to his neighbor. He will judge his own actions by the standard properly applicable to them, and will find as much ground for boasting as this will give him, and no more. His standard will be absolute and not relative, and the amount of his boasting will be proportioned accordingly. He will not seek to excuse himself by dwelling upon his neighbor’s weaknesses.

On verses 4-5:

The best antidote for such false estimates of self is severe self-criticism. Let a man judge his own work, not by comparison with others, but by the ideal standard; then he will see what it is worth and how much he has to boast of. His boasting will be at least real, and not based upon any delusive comparisons.

He must stand or fall by himself. He must bear the weight of his own virtues and his own sins. By them he will be judged, and not by any fancied superiority or inferiority to others. For the thought, compare 2 Corinthians 10:12–14.

Every man shall bear his own burden.—The word for “burden” here is different from the one that had been used above, though its meaning is very much the same. The distinction would be sufficiently represented if we were to translate in the one case burden, in the other load.

The context, however, is quite different. In Galatians 6:2, the Christian is instructed to bear the burdens of others, in the sense of sympathizing with them in their troubles. Here he is told that he must bear his own load, in the sense that he must answer directly to God for his own actions. His responsibility cannot be shifted onto others. He will be no better because there are others worse than himself.