Chapter VI.
(Vers. 1, 2.)
(Verse 1, 2.) Brothers, even if a man has been preoccupied by a wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, instruct such a person with a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself, so that you may not be tempted as well, carrying each other's burdens. Now he addresses those who were stronger, so that they would not consider the person who may have been entangled in sin as unworthy and cast him aside due to the appearance of a righteous life, and therefore they should offer guidance. For they should be provoked with gentleness to reform themselves; for if they are rebuked sharply with authority, they will not tolerate being accused, but will begin to defend themselves, lest they appear shameful; and they will become worse. For if you take a person away from contention and audacity, you will have them subject to you; for humility has the power to humble even the proud. And in order to make this happen with all gentleness of spirit, he added: Don't let yourself be tempted; so that even for this reason he would not reject the sinner, knowing that he himself can sin. And in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ; for the law of Christ wants everyone to be saved: and by this, the one who advises a sinning brother to return to his purpose fulfills the will of Christ.
(Vers. 3, 4.)
(Verse 3, 4.) For if someone appears to himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one prove his own work; and then he will have glory in himself alone, and not in another. It is true, and no one is unaware of it, that if we consider our actions and our mind, we do not consider ourselves superior to anyone, and we do not easily judge anyone. For whoever is exalted as if he were something, errs; for he does not know that growth comes from humility. For the Savior does not have words and deeds before his eyes, who, although he is Lord of all, humbled himself (Philip. II, 8); in order to give us an example of what we should follow if we desire to grow: and if we were to exalt ourselves, we would be brought low, which the folly of an inflated heart does; so that he may appear more commendable among men. For he scorns and despises sinners, and contends to appear righteous, just like that Pharisee whom the Lord denounces (Luc. XVIII, 10). Is he not truly ignorant, who is desirous of present glory? Is he not truly despairing of the future, who wishes to obtain the reward of justice in the present? Why? Because he is not just in deed, but he pretends justice through deceit; for he who wishes to be just, prefers himself to another, so that he may truly be just. For everyone knows more of his own evils than those of another.
(Vers. 5.)
(Verse 5.) For each one will carry his own burden. Ultimately, he wanted to make this known to the proud, that no one is polluted by another's sin, as long as he disagrees, so that no one fears to join a sinner or to welcome someone who approaches him in order to gain profit from him.
(Vers. 6.)
(Verse 6) Let the one who is being catechized communicate in all good things with the one who catechizes him (that is, with the one who hears the word of God). This means that the listeners should share in all good things with their teachers. But if they act differently than they teach, then they should not be shared with or agreed with in those things, so that the law may be more of a guide to you than a person. For they work for themselves, not for you; because you follow what they teach.
(Vers. 7.)
(Verse 7) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. It is certain to no one that imposture can be done to God, but each person will receive what they deserve from Him.
(Vers. 8.)
(Verse 8) For whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Here, it signifies the carnal vices that are typically committed in the flesh; so that the one who corrupts his own flesh will know that he will become subject to corruption. Indeed, it is he who presumes to engage in forbidden acts that corrupts the body. But the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. A Christian is both spirit and flesh; for in comparison to the Holy Spirit, the flesh is like unto man. So when he gives consent to the spirit, abstaining from those things which are contrary, he sows spiritually in order to reap eternal life. For the Spirit receives testimony, and immortality in place of reward. For just as one who corrupts and dishonors his own body does not belong to eternity, but to corruption, so too one who keeps himself uncontaminated will obtain eternal life. For this is eternal life, to live without punishment and to have glory. For if someone who is in distress denies that they are alive at present, how much more will they suffer as a stranger to God, the torment of fire!
(Vers. 9.)
(Verse 9) But let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap an endless harvest. This is said because the one who is strong in sowing will also be strong in reaping, that is, they will receive in the same way as they have done. Therefore, it urges us to be ready to do good, and not to become weary, knowing that we will receive great rewards for small acts and eternal rewards for earthly ones, in the time that God has promised.
(Vers. 10.)
(Verse 10.) Therefore, while we have time, let us do good to all. The Gentiles have a time for doing evil; for people without God, how can they do good? But Christians, having been made so, have a time for doing good to all people; so that after receiving the faith, good works may profit the promised reward. Time is granted to life, therefore, so that we may now live rightly, giving an example to the Gentiles. Especially to those of the household of faith. It is true that we should be more readily inclined towards good in relation to our brothers because we are members of one another. Therefore, we should serve this matter which is beneficial, not circumcision, which is now an empty thing.
(Vers. 11.)
(Verse 11.) Know in what manner I have written to you with my own hand. He gives authority to his letter; for when he says, 'I have written with my own hand,' he wishes his letters to be obeyed. For where the hand is authentic, it cannot be said to be false; lest, perhaps, those who have been deceived might excuse themselves concerning the letter, as if it were either false or not from the Apostle himself, not wanting to be criticized.
(Vers. 12.)
(Verse 12) Whoever wants to please in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised, so that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. Pleasing in the flesh means pleasing to people. Just as they preached Christ in order to live peacefully with the Jews, whom he calls pseudo-apostles, so they also taught to observe the law: something the Apostle never feared, but steadfastly spoke the truth and looked out for himself and those he was teaching. Finally, he said, 'I am not only ready to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ' (Acts 21:13).
(Vers. 13.)
(Verse 13.) For neither do those who are circumcised keep the law; but they desire you to be circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. This is such as that saying to the apostle Peter: If you being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, how force you the Gentiles to Judaize? (Galatians 2:14) Likewise, these same people, though they themselves do not keep the law, unjustly insist on circumcision; so that they may appear to be defenders and lovers of the law: when it is clear that the one who faithfully executes its righteousness is the one who defends and keeps the law, and does not disregard the commandment given for life everlasting. Therefore, such was the Galatians' excuse. This is what they say, in order to suggest that they were deceived like fools and dullards, and that they boasted about their own sufferings.
(Vers. 14.)
(Verse 14.) But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. As the pseudo-apostles redeemed tribulations for the sake of Christ's name, considering them to be of little value, through hypocrisy, they were ashamed of these things. Similarly, the Apostle boasted in these things, knowing that a great reward would be for them. Just as his fellow apostles, as it is written in the Acts of the Apostles: Then, he said, the apostles went out from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer reproach for the sake of Christ's name (Acts 5:41). Therefore, all hope is in Christ; he glories in his cross, to him the world is crucified; assuredly, the love of the cross of Christ is life, but the love of the world is to submit to death. Therefore, they are dead to each other: the world to the Apostle, and the Apostle to the world; while the Apostle desires nothing of the world, and while the world has nothing of its own that it recognizes in the Apostle, just as the Lord says: 'Behold, the prince of this world is coming, and he will find nothing in me.'
(Vers. 15, 16.)
(Vers. 15, 16.) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision is anything, nor uncircumcision; but a new creature. And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. The new creature is our regeneration, this is what gives progress to those persevering; for the peace of God is upon them. For he who is peaceful with God, fears no enmity; for he is protected and made safe by the mercy of God, which has been promised and remains upon the Israel of God, not upon the Israel of man; for the Jews who do not believe are Israelites according to the flesh. Therefore, he signified two parts, upon which remains the peace and mercy of God, of believing Jews and faithful Gentiles.
(Vers. 17.)
(Ver. 17.) From now on, let no one trouble me. He did not want to suffer any more troubles, so that he would not be compelled to write again. But now he wants them to be more correct, so that after removing the errors, he can have a pause after so much weariness. However, if they prove to be more harsh and inflexible in turning back, then they will cease from him; so that he can dedicate his efforts and effectiveness to those from whom he hopes for reward or gain. For I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ on my body. He says this, angry because he saw that the passions he suffered for the sake of the believers were ineffective in them; because he did not hesitate to suffer wounds and chains for Christ's sake with steadfastness and faith in his teaching: but he suffered to have the scars of wounds out of love for the believers in his body; so that he would preach to them just as faithfully as the false apostles who had deceived the Galatians. Therefore, he does not want anyone who is not devoted to this matter to be a burden to him; for these scars, that is, the scars of wounds, are testimonies of those believers who suffer, that they are worthy of the future promise.
(Vers. 18.)
(Verse 18.) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. He does not say the grace of the Law, but that it is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to be with the spirit of those whom he calls spiritual brothers; for not all had completely fallen away.