Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Galatians 6:1

Ἀδελφοὶ. The last verse protested against unbrotherly tempers; this appeal presents, by way of contrast, the claims of brotherly love even in the case of real wrongdoing. καὶ προλημφθῇ. The English version overtaken suggests the idea of sudden temptation, and so tends to palliate the guilt of the offender, but the Greek denotes rather his surprise in the very act, and so lays stress on the reality of his guilt. The passage is urging the tender treatment of actual offenders, and the preceding καί enforces the claims even of guilty brethren on Christian charity: “Brethren, if a man be actually detected … deal tenderly with him in a spirit of meekness.” καταρτίζετε. This verb denotes sometimes the original framing of a mechanism (e.g., of the human body and of the universe in Hebrews 10:5; Hebrews 11:3), but more often its readjustment (e.g., the setting of a broken limb, or the mending of nets in Matthew 4:21). Here it indicates the correction of an offender with a view to his restoration; and the need of meekness and forbearance for the due execution of this delicate task is enforced.

The transition from the plural καταπτίζετε to the singular σκοπῶν is instructive. The treatment of offenders belonged to the Church collectively, but each member needed to examine himself individually, in order that he might fulfil his part with due humility and sympathy.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Galatians 6:1

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