Galatians 6
1 Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you also are not tempted.
My fellow believers, if [you] discover that a person [among your congregation] is sinning, [those of] you whom [God’s] Spirit [is directing and empowering] should gently correct that person. [Furthermore, each of] you [who corrects another person should] be very cautious in order that you might not [sin like that when] you are tempted {[when something] tempts you}.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
[When there are ones who have] problems, you should help each other. By doing that, you will complete what Christ requires.
3 For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Keep in mind that those who [refuse to help others because they think that they are more important than other people, although they are] not really more important, are deceiving themselves.
4 But let each man examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast in himself, and not in someone else.
Instead, each [of you] should [constantly] test/judge [and decide if you can approve what you yourself are doing and thinking]. Then you can boast because of what you yourself [are doing and thinking], and not because what you are doing is superior to what other persons [are doing].
5 For each man will bear his own burden.
Keep in mind that you must each perform your own [individual] tasks.
6 But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.
[You] who are being taught {whom others are teaching} [God’s truth] should share your various [material] things [EUP] with your teachers.
7 Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
You should not deceive yourselves. [Remember that] God is never outwitted {no one ever fools God}. [Just like] a farmer will reap exactly the kind [of crop that] he plants [MET], [God will reward people according to what they have done] [MET].
8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap consummate (aiōnios g166) life.
[God] will punish eternally those who do what their self-directed natures urge them to do. But those who please [God’s] Spirit will live forever [with God] because of what [God’s] Spirit does for them. (aiōnios g166)
9 Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we do not give up.
But we should not (tire of/become discouraged while) doing what pleases God, because [eventually], at the time [that God] has determined, we will receive a reward [MET], if we do not stop [doing the good things that we have been doing].
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.
So, whenever we have opportunities, we should do [what is] good to all people. But especially we should do what is good to all our fellow believers.
11 See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand.
I am now writing this last part of this letter to you in my own handwriting. Notice the large letters with which I am now writing. I am doing this in order that I might emphasize this:
12 As many as desire to make a good impression in the flesh compel you to be circumcised, just so they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Some Jewish believers are trying to force you to perform certain rituals so that other Jews will think highly of them. They are insisting that you be circumcised {that someone must circumcise you}. They are doing that only in order that other Jews would no longer (persecute them/cause them to suffer) for proclaiming that God will save us because of our trusting in what Christ accomplished when he died on the cross [MTY, MET].
13 For even they who receive circumcision do not keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, so that they may boast in your flesh.
The reason that I say that is that the ones who are insisting that you be circumcised {that someone circumcise you} do not themselves fully obey the laws that God gave to Moses. Instead, they desire that you let someone circumcise you in order that they might boast to those Jews who would (persecute them/cause them to suffer) that you did that because they insisted [MTY] that you do it.
14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
I myself, however, strongly desire that I never boast about anything like that. The only thing I will boast about is what our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished by dying on the cross [MTY]. Because of what Christ did on the cross, I no longer am interested in the things that those who do not trust Christ [MTY] think are important, and those people are no longer interested in the things that I [MET] think are important.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
I will boast about Christ dying on the cross because God is concerned neither that people are circumcised nor that people are not circumcised. Instead, he is concerned only that people conduct their lives in a completely new way.
16 As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s Israel.
I pray that God will give inner peace and act kindly towards all who will act according to this new way of life. It is all those who live according to this new way of life who are now truly God’s people [MET], as the Israeli people were God’s people previously.
17 From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body.
Finally, I say that people have persecuted me/caused me to suffer for declaring the truth about Jesus, and as a result I have scars on my body. Your new teachers do not have scars like mine! So do not trouble/bother me about these matters again!
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
My fellow believers, I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will kindly accomplish what he desires within you. (Amen!/May it be so!)
