Chapter # 6 Paragraph # 1 Study # 2
September 1, 2013
Dayton, Texas
(290)
1769 Translation:
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
1901 ASV Translation:
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor.
5 For each man shall bear his own burden.
- I. Bearing the Burdens of Others [compare Romans 15:1].
- A. The issue of "burdens" is the presence of a metaphorical weight that is seen as inescapable.
- 1. Paul's word choice is that of a word that is never used in the New Testament in a literal, physical sense. The contexts invariably use "weight"/"burden" in non-physical settings to generate a mental image of something that has to be carried about. Typically, the idea is negative except in one text (2 Corinthians 4:17). The metaphor is that of "responsibility" that "weighs" heavily upon the one upon whose "shoulders" it rests.
- 2. The verb used in this text has no automatic sense of "significant weight" (one can "bear" a feather, or millstone); it simply means that the thing "borne" is not carrying itself along. Paul used this verb in Galatians 6:17 to refer to scars in his physical flesh.
- 3. A case could be made for the idea that 6:1 creates a "burden" for those who are "spiritual".
- a. There is a reason that the activity enjoined by Paul is this text is often ignored by a large block of "spiritual leaders". That reason is this: attempting to deal with those who have succumbed to temptation is a taxing activity.
- b. However, the entire issue of being "spiritual" is one of having "taken up one's cross to follow the example of Christ in His 'grace' dealings with others". So, in reality, the "burden" of obedience to Paul's insistence is only such for those who are not really "spiritual". A kindred text is John's "His commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3). That is only true for those who have actually bought into "the love of God".
- c. Yet, Paul's "ye which are spiritual" is plural so that the restoration of a deceived brother automatically suggests several "brethren" who are bearing each other's "burden" in the attempt to relieve the deceived brother's "burden". No one enjoys having to deal with transgressing brothers (the task is a "burden"), but when there are several who are willing to put their shoulders to the task that "burden" is significantly less weighty.
- B. The issue of "the Law of the Christ".
- 1. The actual identity of this "Law" appears to be the most fundamental undergirding principle of Messiah's Kingdom: Love energizing faith (5:6) unto righteousness (Hebrews 1:8). Technically, this is not "Law" in the sense of demand/perform; it is simply an inviolable principle (as in "the law of gravity"); it is not something to be "obeyed" so much as something that needs to be at least an element in one's plans and actions because it will not be allowed to fail. No one ignores it with impunity.
- 2. The "fulfillment" of this "Law" is simply the acceptance of another's "weight" so that the "other" is somewhat relieved by the aid offered. This further defines "the Law of the Christ": it is the loving accomplishment of a task for someone else (grace in substitutionary labors). The entire letter to the Galatians is about "the Christ" Who has acted in our stead, for our sakes. If there is a fundamental "law" that governs "the Christ" and all of His activities, it is this issue of bearing the burdens of another.