Galatians 6:1

Brethren The force of this word of appeal (as well as the general connexion) is weakened by the division of the Epistle into Chapter s. The previous chapter concludes with a warning against provocation and envy sins utterly inconsistent with Christian brotherhood. We are reminded of the remonstrance of Moses, -Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?" Acts 7:26. The train of thought seems to be: "I have condemned the unchristian spirit and conduct which you exhibit in cases where it is possible that you may be mistaken as to the gravity or the reality of the fault which you attack. I go further. Suppose a man to be detected in an overt violation of the law of God, a -manifest" sin (Galatians 5:19): you are not even then justified in trying to crush the offender. He is your brother. You share his fallen nature; you are exposed to the same temptations as he. Let this thought lead to the exercise of a spirit of gentleness, and seek to restore such an one, to repair his fault, to recover him to the position he had forfeited".

if a man … fault In the Gk. - even though a man be."

overtaken - surprised, detected ". It has been suggested that the reference is to some previousoffence, the repetition of which would of course aggravate the guilt of the individual and might seem to justify harsh treatment of him. That such is the literal sense of the word rendered -be overtaken", and that it is so used in Classical Greek, is true. But there is authority for the other rendering which better suits the context. The reference is not to the habitual or repeated offender, but to the case of one who by reason of the frailty of human nature had fallen into the commission of open sin. Such an one was the incestuous person at Corinth. The incident had recently occurred, when this Epistle was written, and could not fail to be in the thoughts of the Apostle. The language used by him in reference to it (2 Corinthians 2:6-8) should be compared with that of this verse. Paley (Horœ Paulinœ) sees here an undesigned coincidence, confirming the genuineness of both Epistles. He does not, however, notice the application of the expression -in a spirit of meekness" both here and in 1 Corinthians 4:21, to the treatment of an offender.

ye which are spiritual Surely there is no irony here, as some suggest. St Paul is full of the great distinction not always discernible by human eyes between those who are carnaland those who are spirituala distinction based on the contrariety(ch. Galatians 5:17) between the spiritand the flesh. There is a very solemn question suggested by it Were they what they professed to be? If they possessed the spirit of Christ, they could not but produce the fruit of the Spirit of which gentleness, or meekness, is one.

restore The original of this word is used in a physicalsense of repairing broken nets, Matthew 4:21, of the gradual completion or furnishing of the material creation, Hebrews 11:3. But it is more commonly employed in N. T. in a figurative sense, see Luke 6:14, where it is rendered "when he is perfected" R.V., and Hebrews 13:21; 1 Peter 5:10. In this last passage, as elsewhere, God is the author of this work of spiritual restoration and perfecting: but He employs human agency for its accomplishment the agency of His Church, ministers and laymen.

such a one not the habitual offender, but the fallen brother. Evangelical ethics lend no countenance to sin: they teach us to prevent further evil by the restoration of the offender. This cannot be effected by harshness of speech or bitterness of tone.

in the spirit of meekness Contrasted by St Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:21, with the -rod"; the spirit which should animate every Christian as distinguished from the judicial authority vested by Christ in the Apostles and rulers of the Church. This spiritis produced by the Holy Ghost, but the word is not used here in a personalsense.

considering thyself The transition from the plural, - yewhich are spiritual", to the singular, -thyself", -thou", gives point to the admonition. The possibility of a similar temptation and a similar fall, may well temper their judgment with self-distrust, and so, with charity. There is, however, a distinct injunction to -consider themselves", to observe carefully their own spirit and conduct, lest if their eyes be fixed not on their own goings, but exclusively on those of their brother, the Tempter seize the occasion to attack and overthrow them. Some expositors make these words, -considering thyself, &c." the commencement of Galatians 6:2. The received arrangement is preferable.