Charles Ellicott Commentary Galatians 6:1

"Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted." — Galatians 6:1 (ASV)

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).