Bearing Burdens and Doing Good
Study note
Paul provides practical guidelines for Spirit-led community life. Those who are spiritual should gently restore anyone caught in sin while guarding against their own temptation. Believers are called to carry one another's burdens, fulfilling the law of Christ, while also taking personal responsibility for their own conduct. The principle of sowing and reaping applies to spiritual life: those who invest in the flesh reap corruption, while those who invest in the Spirit reap eternal life. Paul encourages perseverance in doing good, promising a harvest for those who do not give up.
1 Brothers and sisters, if you catch someone making a mistake, those of you who are led by the Spirit should gently help that person get back on track. But keep an eye on yourselves so you do not fall into the same trap. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 If you think you are more important than you truly are, you are only fooling yourself. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 Each person should look honestly at their own work. Then if there is something to be proud of, it will come from their own effort, not from comparing themselves to somebody else. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 Everyone must carry their own load. For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 If someone is teaching you God's word, share every good thing you have with that teacher. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For whoever sows to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but whoever sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not give up. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 Whenever we have the chance, let us do good to everyone. And let us give extra attention to our brothers and sisters who share our faith. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Boasting Only in the Cross
Study note
In a striking personal touch, Paul takes the pen to write the conclusion in his own large handwriting. He exposes the true motives of the circumcision party: they promote external conformity to avoid persecution and to boast in others' flesh. In contrast, Paul declares that his only boast is in the cross of Christ, through which the world has been crucified to him and he to the world. What matters is not circumcision or uncircumcision but being a new creation. He closes by invoking peace and mercy on all who follow this principle and by pointing to the marks of Jesus on his own body as his final credential.
11 Look at how big these letters are -- I am writing this last part with my own hand! Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
12 The people pushing you to get circumcised only care about looking good on the outside. They do it so they will not be persecuted for following the cross of Christ. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
13 Even the people who are circumcised do not keep the law! They want you to get circumcised so they can brag about what they got you to do. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
14 As for me, the only thing I will ever brag about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through that cross, the world has lost its hold on me, and I have lost my attachment to the world. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
15 When you belong to Jesus Christ, being circumcised or not circumcised does not matter one bit. The only thing that matters is becoming a new person. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
16 Peace and mercy to everyone who follows this way of thinking -- and to all of God's true people. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on, nobody bother me with these arguments. The scars on my body prove that I belong to the Lord Jesus. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
18 Brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.