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Galatians

Chapter 6 · Douay–Rheims / Challoner

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Chapter VI · Location 6 of 6

Chapter 6 · Open to read

From Galatians · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)

How does Saint Paul instruct the Church to practice mutual charity and persevere in the cross of Christ in Galatians 6?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Paul calls for meek instruction, mutual burdens and perseverance in good, then contrasts boasting in circumcision with his glory in Christ’s cross.

Chapter breakdown

Saint Paul instructs the Galatian faithful on how to exercise fraternal correction within the Christian community. If a brother is overtaken by some moral failing, those who are spiritual should gently restore him in a spirit of meekness, while maintaining personal vigilance so that they themselves are not ensnared by temptation. By carrying one another's heavy burdens, believers fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone imagines himself to be important when he is fundamentally nothing, he merely deludes his own mind. Every person must examine and prove his own actions; only then will he find legitimate satisfaction in his own personal progress rather than in comparison with his neighbor, for ultimately each individual will bear his own personal accountability before God. Paul also reminds the congregation that whoever receives instruction in sacred doctrine should generously share all good things with his catechist and teacher. Warning them against complacency, Paul declares that God cannot be deceived or mocked: whatever a person sows during this life, that exact harvest he will inevitably reap. Whoever sows to his fallen bodily desires will reap corruption from the flesh; but whoever sows to the Holy Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Therefore, believers must never grow weary in practicing virtue, for in due season they shall reap if they do not lose heart. As long as earthly opportunity remains, they must actively accomplish good toward all people, particularly toward those who belong to the household of faith.

Drawing attention to the letter written with his own personal hand, Paul exposes the corrupt motivations of the false teachers urging circumcision upon the Galatians. These agitators promote ritual compliance merely to project an impressive outward display in the flesh and avoid facing the painful persecution associated with the cross of Christ. Even those who undergo circumcision do not observe the law; rather, they demand that the Galatians be circumcised simply so they can boast over their fleshly conformity. Far from adopting such superficial pride, Paul proclaims that he will never boast in anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the worldly order has been crucified to him, and he has been crucified to the world. In the economy of Jesus Christ, outward circumcision or the absence of it holds no value whatsoever; what alone matters is becoming a completely renewed creature through divine grace. Upon all who embrace this guiding principle, and upon the authentic Israel of God, Paul invokes heavenly peace and mercy. Requesting that no one cause him further vexation or distress, the apostle points to his own body, affirming that he bears the marks of the Lord Jesus. He concludes his letter with a warm prayer that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may remain with their spirit.

The story inside

Those who are spiritual must instruct someone overtaken in a fault with meekness and consider their own temptation. Paul joins bearing others’ burdens with proving one’s own work and bearing one’s own burden. His sowing image contrasts corruption with everlasting life, calling for continued good to all. The closing words contrast circumcision-based boasting with the cross and a new creature; no recipients’ later response is narrated.

Lessons worth keeping

  1. 1
    Meek instruction includes considering one’s own temptation; carrying others’ burdens is joined to proving one’s own work.
  2. 2
    Paul’s sowing image urges perseverance in doing good, especially to the household of faith.
  3. 3
    Paul attributes circumcision demands to avoiding persecution and boasting; his own glory is in Christ’s cross.

Test your recall

According to Galatians 6, what solemn warning does Saint Paul give regarding the harvest a person reaps from sowing to the flesh versus sowing to the Spirit?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

  1. Lines 132265–132278

    6:1. Brethren, and if a man be overtaken in any fault, you, who are spiritual, instruct such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 6:2. Bear ye one another’s burdens: and so you shall fulfil the law of Christ. 6:3. For if any man think himself to be some thing, whereas he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 6:4. But let every one prove his own work: and so he shall have glory in himself only and not in another. 6:5. For every one shall bear his own burden.
  2. Lines 132283–132293

    6:7. Be not deceived: God is not mocked. 6:8. For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh of the flesh also shall reap corruption. But he that soweth in the spirit of the spirit shall reap life everlasting. 6:9. And in doing good, let us not fail. For in due time we shall reap, not failing. 6:10. Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
  3. Lines 132297–132309

    6:12. For as many as desire to please in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer the persecution of the cross of Christ. 6:13. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law: but they will have you to be circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 6:14. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. 6:15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision: but a new creature.
  4. Lines 132311–132318

    6:16. And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them and mercy: and upon the Israel of God. 6:17. From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me: for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body. 6:18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

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