Carry One Another’s Burdens

¹Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, , watching out for yourselves so that you won’t also be tempted.[#6:1 Jms 3:13; #6:1 Or with the Spirit of gentleness; #6:1 Ps 51:12; #6:1 Jms 1:13]

²Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.[#6:2 1Co 9:21]

³For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.[#6:3 1Co 3:18; 2Co 12:11; Gl 2:6]

⁴Let each person examine his own work, and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else.[#6:4 Mk 14:6; Gl 3:10; Jms 2:14–26]

⁵For each person will have to carry his own load.

⁶Let the one who is taught the word share all his good things with the teacher.[#6:6 Rm 15:27; 1Pt 5:2]

⁷Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap,

⁸because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.[#6:8 Ps 51:11; Jn 1:33; Ac 2:4; Rm 8:9; Gl 5:25; Ti 3:5; Rv 3:22; #6:8 Jn 12:25; Ac 13:48]

⁹Let us not get tired of doing good, for we shall reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.[#6:9 2Th 3:13; #6:9 Lk 18:18; Jms 4:17]

¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.[#6:10 2Jn 8; #6:10 Gn 1:31; 3Jn 11; #6:10 1Tm 5:8; #6:10 Jd 3]

Concluding Exhortation

¹¹Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting.

¹²Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised #– #but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.[#6:12 Php 3:3; #6:12 Ac 15:1; #6:12 2Tm 3:12; #6:12 Php 3:18]

¹³For even the circumcised don’t keep the law themselves, and yet they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh.[#6:13 Lk 11:28]

¹⁴But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.

¹⁵For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.[#6:15 Other mss add in Christ Jesus; #6:15 Col 3:11; #6:15 Jn 1:3; Rv 3:14]

¹⁶May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israel of God![#6:16 Lk 3:8; #6:16 Or And for those who follow this standard, may peace and mercy be upon them, even upon the Israel of God , or And as many who will follow this standard, peace be upon them and mercy even upon the Israel of God.]

¹⁷From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.[#6:17 Php 3:10]

¹⁸Brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.[#6:18 Ps 51:12]