Galatians 6:1

GAL. 6

In this final chapter of the epistle, Paul reached the glorious climax of the whole letter dealing with the contrast between the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ, with so FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST standing as the essence of the total admonition. Without the understanding of this final chapter, much that Paul has written earlier might have appeared incomplete and inconclusive. This writer's interpretation of this chapter is at variance with the traditional views concerning it which dominate so much of the current literature on Galatians, but it is presented in the conviction that the sheer logic of the view here advocated will commend itself to the discerning student.

Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in a trespass, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

Overtaken in a trespass ... The situation here envisioned is not that of some Christian overtaking trespass, but that of the trespass overtaking him! Sin committed impetuously through the sudden and unexpected onset of temptation, actual sin, not a mere "fault," is to be understood here. The term "trespass" does not entail any "absolution of responsibility";[1] "Of the guilt, there is no palliation indicated by the word fault or trespass."[2] Despite this certainty regarding the New Testament usage of this word, people still cling to the phantom supposition that there is less blame in it than accrues to "sin." As Childers said, regarding the Lukan form of the Lord's prayer, where "sin" is used for "trespass," "We who believe that Christians do not commit sins and remain Christians sometimes avoid this form of the prayer."[3] A comparison of the two New Testament accounts of the Lord's prayer, however, shows that Christ used "sin" and "trespass" interchangeably. Thus the simple meaning here is, "If a Christian brother unexpectedly commits some sin, etc."

Ye who are spiritual ... is not restricted to ministers, elders, or other special workers in the church but is applicable to all who love the body of the Lord and are zealous for building it up. Obviously, those persons in whom the spiritual life is not dominant would be useless in the endeavor proposed, hence the admonition that "ye who are spiritual" should do it.

Restore such a one in a spirit of meekness ... Amazingly, the commentators have almost invariably described this verse as "a command to love thy neighbor as thyself'; and of course the Christian love of the brethren is an implied necessity, but it is not here mentioned. This is a flat, unequivocal commandment to go out and restore the sinful, the same being one part, and only one part of the Law of Christ, mentioned a moment later in connection with another part of that same Law of Christ.

Looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted ... The thought here echoes that of Galatians 5:26, showing the coherence and unity of Paul's continuing message. The deceitful and seductive nature of sin being what it is, the child of the Lord should tread fearfully in the presence of any who have broken the sacred Law, being constantly aware that the same lure of the forbidden which has already trapped a brother might also entangle himself in disobedience.

[1] Herman N. Ridderbos, The Epistle of Paul to the Churches of Galatia (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1953), p. 212.

[2] E. Huxtable, The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), Vol. 20, p. 294.

[3] Charles L. Childers, Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1964), Vol. Romans, p. 508.