6 Let him who is taught the Word share all good things with him who teaches.§Teachers are people; they too need food, clothes, shelter… 7 Do not be deceived, God does not allow Himself to be treated with contempt; because whatever a man sows, that he will also reap 8 —he who sows to his own flesh will reap deterioration*If the deterioration is never checked, guess what happens. from that flesh; he who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from that Spirit.
9 Let us not lose heart while doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we do not give up.†So what happens if you give up? 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do what is good toward everyone, but especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.
17 Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the brand marks of the Lord§Perhaps 1% of the Greek manuscripts, of inferior quality, omit “Lord” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). I would say that the eclectic Greek text that these modern versions generally follow is mistaken at over eighty (80) points in Galatians, of which I mentioned only twelve (mainly the more serious ones). Jesus.*This is an interesting claim. I suppose him to be saying that he deserves respectful treatment because of what he has suffered for Christ's cause.
- a He is ruling out hearsay.
- b Again, my rendering is unusual. My difficulty with the usual ‘in himself’ and ‘in another’ is that in both cases the preposition is ‘into’ (εις), not ‘in’ (εν). If someone forms an exaggerated notion about his work (verse 3) and then starts boasting out loud, he will look stupid.
- c There is a contrast between “heavy burden” (verse 2) and “normal load” (verse 5). We should help each other with the really ‘heavy’ stuff.
- d Teachers are people; they too need food, clothes, shelter…
- e If the deterioration is never checked, guess what happens.
- f So what happens if you give up?
- g This verse, coupled with 4:15 above, gives credence to the idea that Paul's physical infirmity had to do with his eyes.
- h Again Paul makes clear that he is referring to the religious exercise when practiced on adults, not the physical fact (that is properly practiced on eight-day-old babies).
- i Some 3% of the Greek manuscripts omit “because in Christ Jesus” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).
- j If you are not a new creation, you are not saved.
- k According to Greek grammar, the repetition of the preposition ‘upon’ in two phrases joined by ‘and’ makes clear that the objects of the prepositions refer to distinct entities. Hence, “the Israel of God” cannot be a reference to the Church, assuming that “those who conform to this rule” refers to those who are “in Christ Jesus”. I take “the Israel of God” to refer to sincere, devout Israelites.
- l Perhaps 1% of the Greek manuscripts, of inferior quality, omit “Lord” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). I would say that the eclectic Greek text that these modern versions generally follow is mistaken at over eighty (80) points in Galatians, of which I mentioned only twelve (mainly the more serious ones).
- m This is an interesting claim. I suppose him to be saying that he deserves respectful treatment because of what he has suffered for Christ's cause.