Book List
Prev Galatians Chapter 6 Next
1 2 3 4 5 6

Click *H for Haydock Commentary.
Click * Footnote to expand footnote
Click any word in Latin to activate the parser. Then click on the display to expand the parser.

6:1 Fratres, etsi praeoccupatus fuerit homo in aliquo delicto, vos, qui spirituales estis, hujusmodi instruite in spiritu lenitatis, considerans teipsum, ne et tu tenteris.
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 Alter alterius onera portate, et sic adimplebitis legem Christi.
*H Bear ye one another's burdens: and so you shall fulfil the law of Christ.


Ver. 2. One another's burdens. This is not contrary to what is added v. 5, that every one shall bear his own burden, because in the first place the sense is, that we must bear patiently with one another's faults and imperfections; in the second, that every one must answer for himself at God's tribunal. Wi. — Every one has his failings and weaknesses, and stands in need of indulgence from his brethren; he must, therefore, grant to them what he so much desires to receive from them. Calmet.

6:3 Nam si quis existimat se aliquid esse, cum nihil sit, ipse se seducit.
For if any man think himself to be some thing, whereas he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
6:4 Opus autem suum probet unusquisque, et sic in semetipso tantum gloriam habebit, et non in altero.
But let every one prove his own work: and so he shall have glory in himself only and not in another.
6:5 Unusquisque enim onus suum portabit.
For every one shall bear his own burden.
* Footnote * 1_Corinthians 3 : 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth, are one. And every man shall receive his own reward, according to his own labour.
6:6 Communicet autem is qui catechizatur verbo, ei qui se catechizat, in omnibus bonis.
*H And let him that is instructed in the word communicate to him that instructeth him, in all good things.


Ver. 6. Communicate . . . in all good things: by this communication, is understood an assisting of others in their wants. Wi. — Such as are blessed with the goods of this world, should gladly communicate a share of their efforts to the preachers and teachers of the true faith; and this not merely as a return for what they have received, but also that they may be made thereby partakers of their merit. S. Aug. l. 2. evang. quæst. q. 8.

6:7 Nolite errare : Deus non irridetur.
*H Be not deceived: God is not mocked.


Ver. 7. This is addressed to the avaricious, who, under various pretexts, excused themselves from contributing to the support of their teachers. But they are here informed, that their excuses will not screen them from the anger of God. Calmet.

6:8 Quae enim seminaverit homo, haec et metet. Quoniam qui seminat in carne sua, de carne et metet corruptionem : qui autem seminat in spiritu, de spiritu metet vitam aeternam.
*H 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.


Ver. 8. He that soweth in his flesh, &c. The apostle represents the flesh and the spirit like two fields, on which men sow good or bad seed, according to which they shall reap. Wi.

6:9 Bonum autem facientes, non deficiamus : tempore enim suo metemus non deficientes.
*H And in doing good, let us not fail. For in due time we shall reap, not failing.


Ver. 9. Works of mercy are the seed of life everlasting, and the proper cause thereof, and not faith only.

* Footnote * 2_Thessalonians 3 : 13 But you, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
6:10 Ergo dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum ad omnes, maxime autem ad domesticos fidei.
*H Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith.


Ver. 10. The household of the faith: those who profess the same true faith. Wi. — We are more bound to assist Christians than Jews; Catholics than heretics. S. Jerom, q. 1. ad Hedibim.

6:11 Videte qualibus litteris scripsi vobis mea manu.
*H See what a letter I have written to you with my own hand.


Ver. 11. What a letter I have written . . . with my own hand. S. Jerom understands this of what he is now beginning to write, the rest being written by the hand of another. Others understand the whole letter. Wi. — S. Chrys. Theophylact, and Theodoret, suppose that the apostle wrote the whole epistle with his own hand, and here excuses himself for writing so ill the Grecian letters, which were so very different from those of his native language. But S. Jerom understands, that he wrote only this latter part of the epistle, as a testimony that the whole came from him. Calmet.

6:12 Quicumque enim volunt placere in carne, hi cogunt vos circumcidi, tantum ut crucis Christi persecutionem non patiantur.
*H 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.


Ver. 12-13. He tells them the false teachers would have them circumcised first, to avoid persecution from the Jewish party; and secondly to glory in having made them their proselytes. Wi.

6:13 Neque enim qui circumciduntur, legem custodiunt : sed volunt vos circumcidi, ut in carne vestra glorientur.
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 Mihi autem absit gloriari, nisi in cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi : per quem mihi mundus crucifixus est, et ego mundo.
*H 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.


Ver. 14. As for my part, I will glory in nothing but in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, but in Christ crucified. Wi.

6:15 In Christo enim Jesu neque circumcisio aliquid valet, neque praeputium, sed nova creatura.
*H For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision: but a new creature.


Ver. 15. But a new creature; but to be born anew, to receive the spiritual life of grace. Wi.

6:16 Et quicumque hanc regulam secuti fuerint, pax super illos, et misericordia, et super Israel Dei.
And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them and mercy: and upon the Israel of God.
6:17 De cetero, nemo mihi molestus sit : ego enim stigmata Domini Jesu in corpore meo porto.
*H From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me: for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body.


Ver. 17. I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body, by the stripes and wounds I have received for preaching the gospel. Wi. — Formerly it was not unusual to stamp certain characters on the bodies of soldiers, fugitives, and of domestics, purposely to distinguish them. —— There are three principal parts in this epistle. The first is the history of the vocation of S. Paul, c. i. and ii.; the second is on justification and the abrogation of the law; the third is an exhortation to persevere in Christian liberty, to avoid its abuse, and to perform the various duties of a Christian.

6:18 Gratia Domini nostri Jesu Christi cum spiritu vestro, fratres. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Prev Next