Galatians 6:1

Context

This verse belongs to the closing exhortations of Galatians, the letter Paul sent to the churches of the region of Galatia. Some in the Galatian churches were demanding circumcision and observance of the Law, and in chapter 5 Paul opposes them by proclaiming the freedom believers have in Christ. To keep that freedom from becoming license, he urges them to "walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16) and contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. Chapter 5 closes with a charge not to provoke or envy one another. Galatians 6:1 continues this line of thought, addressing concretely how the community should respond when one of its members has done wrong. It is read as a single unit with the verse that immediately follows: "Bear ye one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2).

Interpretation

• Reading "ye which are spiritual": Many commentators hold that the phrase does not refer to a special class of believers but to all believers who live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). Other scholars, however, suggest that some in the Galatian churches regarded themselves as spiritually advanced and that Paul chose this expression with them in mind.
• The meaning of "restore": The Greek verb katartizō is also used of mending torn nets (Matthew 4:21). For this reason, the interpretation that the verse focuses on restoration rather than punishment is widely accepted. It is also frequently noted that the word was used in the medical writing of the time for setting a dislocated bone. "Meekness" (a gentle and humble disposition) is likewise one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23).
• The Reformed reading: Presbyterian and other Reformed churches read this verse together with Matthew 18 as a text that expresses the spirit of church discipline (the process by which the church corrects members who have done wrong). The Westminster Confession of Faith likewise lists the reclaiming of offending brethren among the purposes of church discipline.
• The Wesleyan reading: In the Wesleyan tradition, including Methodist and Holiness churches, this verse is sometimes read in connection with the class meeting tradition, in which believers in small groups watched over one another's spiritual lives and admonished one another. This reading emphasizes mutual care and accountability among believers.

Questions of Application

• Nuances of translation: The Greek verb rendered "be overtaken" can be read either as "be caught in the act of wrongdoing" or as "be unintentionally drawn into" a fault, so the nuance differs somewhat from one translation to another. The word rendered "tempted" can also be translated in the sense of being enticed.
• Who does the restoring: Under denominational constitutions, formal discipline is the responsibility of a governing body such as the session. The verse, however, is addressed to the whole community, so the roles of church officers and of all believers are discussed together.
• Quotation out of context: Critics have observed that the phrase "in the spirit of meekness" has been used to justify quietly covering up, within the church, incidents involving victims. They point out that the verse concerns the restoration of community members who have done wrong and cannot serve as a substitute for protecting victims or for legal proceedings. This issue is also raised in discussions of sexual abuse in the church.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, the word sillyeonghada ("spiritual") is commonly used of people who have many spiritual gifts or spiritual experiences, and as a result "ye which are spiritual" is sometimes misunderstood as referring to such people. It is often explained that, in context, the phrase refers to believers in general who walk by the Spirit. The verse is also cited in sermons on church discipline and mutual admonition among believers, as well as in training for small group leaders.

Related Passages

• Galatians 6:2
• Galatians 5:16-21
• Matthew 18:15-17
• 1 Corinthians 10:11-12
• Luke 6:37-42