Galatians Chapter 6 concludes Paul’s letter with a series of practical instructions that flow naturally from the theological truths he has established throughout the epistle. Paul calls the Galatian believers to a life of mutual support and accountability within the community of faith. He instructs them to gently restore those who fall into sin, to carry one another’s burdens, and to examine their own actions rather than comparing themselves to others, since each person will ultimately be responsible for their own work before God.
Paul also addresses the principle of sowing and reaping, warning that those who sow to please the flesh will reap destruction, while those who sow to please the Spirit will reap eternal life. He encourages the Galatians not to grow weary in doing good, especially toward fellow believers. The letter closes with Paul’s final remarks, written in his own hand, where he reiterates that neither circumcision nor its absence matters, but rather being a new creation in Christ. He ends by emphasizing that his only boast is in the cross of Christ, through which he has died to the world, and offers a closing blessing of grace upon the believers.
Chapter 6 (BBE)
1 Brothers, if a man is taken in any wrongdoing, you who are of the Spirit will put such a one right in a spirit of love; keeping watch on yourself, for fear that you yourself may be tested.
2 Take on yourselves one another’s troubles, and so keep the law of Christ.
3 For if a man has an idea that he is something when he is nothing, he is tricked by himself.
4 But let every man make test of his work, and then will his cause for glory be in himself only, and not in his neighbour.
5 Because every man is responsible for his part of the work.
6 But let him who gets teaching in the word give a part in all good things to his teacher.
7 Be not tricked; God is not made sport of: for whatever seed a man puts in, that will he get back as grain.
8 Because he who puts in the seed of the flesh will of the flesh get the reward of death; but he who puts in the seed of the Spirit will of the Spirit get the reward of eternal life.
9 And let us not get tired of well-doing; for at the right time we will get in the grain, if we do not give way to weariness.
10 So then, as we have the chance, let us do good to all men, and specially to those who are of the family of the faith.
11 See the size of the handwriting which I myself have made use of in writing to you.
12 Those who have the desire to seem important in the flesh, put force on you to undergo circumcision; only that they may not be attacked because of the cross of Christ.
13 Because even those who undergo circumcision do not themselves keep the law; but they would have you undergo circumcision, so that they may have glory in your flesh.
14 But far be it from me to have glory in anything, but only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which this world has come to an end on the cross for me, and I for it.
15 For having circumcision is nothing, and not having circumcision is nothing, but only a new order of existence.
16 And on all who are guided by this rule be peace and mercy, and on the Israel of God.
17 From this time on let no man be a trouble to me; because my body is marked with the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. So be it.
Important Verses
Galatians 6:1-2 Paul instructs believers to gently help restore those caught in sin and to bear one another’s burdens, fulfilling the law of Christ through love and support.
Galatians 6:7-8 Paul warns that people reap what they sow, contrasting a life devoted to the flesh, which leads to destruction, with a life devoted to the Spirit, which leads to eternal life.
Galatians 6:9 Paul encourages believers not to grow weary in doing good, promising that in due time they will reap a harvest if they do not give up.
Galatians 6:14 Paul declares that his only boast is in the cross of Jesus Christ, through which he has died to the world and its values.
Galatians 6:15 Paul concludes that what truly matters is not circumcision or its absence but being a new creation in Christ, summarizing the central message of the entire letter.
