Chapter 6 – One God Translation

Galatians

   6 Brothers and sisters, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual should restore that person with a gentle spirit, while being watchful of yourselves so that you are not also tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Messiah. [1179] 3 For if anyone thinks more of himself than he really is, he is self-deceived. 4 Let each person examine his own work and then take pride in himself, rather than comparing himself to another. 5 For each person will bear his own load.
    6 Those who are taught the Gospel-word[1180] should share all good things with their teacher. 7 Do not be deceived; God will not be mocked, and you will reap what you sow. 8 If you sow to your own flesh you will from the flesh reap destruction, but if you sow to the spirit you will from the spirit[1181] reap the Life of the Age to Come. [1182] 9 So let us not get discouraged in doing what is good, because at harvest time we will reap if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity we should do good to all, especially to those of the family of the faith.
    11 Notice the large letters I am writing with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good outward showing who are pressuring you to be circumcised. They are only doing this so that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Messiah. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves really keep the Law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh. 14 But may I never boast about anything except the cross of our lord Jesus Messiah, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;[1183] what matters is that we are a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy be on all those who follow this rule, that is on the Israel of God.[1184]
    17 Let no one trouble me any more, because I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.
    18 The grace of our lord Jesus Messiah be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Galatians

[1179]

The Torah of Messiah, strongly contrasted with the Torah of Moses. In 1 Cor. 9:21 Paul makes the same striking distinction between the Law (Torah) of Moses and the Law (Torah) of Messiah. Failure to see this difference remains a cause for unnecessary division and contention amongst those claiming to follow Jesus. Jesus came not to abolish Torah, but to bring it to its higher spiritual meaning (Mt. 5:17).

[1180]

The Gospel of the Kingdom (cp. Acts 8:12).

[1181]

The essential clear difference between the two covenants is expressed by Rom. 7:6: the spirit vs. the letter of the law.

[1182]

As in the great, classic and definitive resurrection verse, Dan. 12:2. This verse tells us what the dead are doing and where they are doing it. The dead are currently sleeping in the dust of the ground, inactive and unconscious. They will return to life only at the future return of Jesus to resurrect the dead (1 Cor. 15:23; 1 Thess. 4:13ff; Lk. 14:14).

[1183]

This is precisely and deliberately contrary to the divine command in Gen. 17 that no Jew or Gentile could be part of the covenant apart from physical circumcision.

[1184]

The Israel of God is in this context obviously the international body of believers. Paul knows, of course, also of a future for now blinded natural, national Israel, “Israelites” (Rom. 9-11), but here he intentionally uses the word “Israel” to mean the Church. The Church is to be governed by the canon of love. Paul contrasts the Israel of the spirit here with the “Israel of the flesh” in 1 Cor. 10:18. In Phil. 3:3 Paul designates the international believers, the Church, as spiritual Jews or circumcision (cp. Rom. 2:28-29).