Teachers and their support (6:6)
Says “the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor” (Gal 6:6; Κοινωνείτω δὲ ὁ κατηχούμενος τὸν λόγον τῷ κατηχοῦντι ἐν πᾶσιν ἀγαθοῖς, “let the one taught the word share with the one teaching in all good things”). Paul asks elsewhere, “If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?” (1 Cor 9:11).
Several early readers take 6:6 as material support of the teacher. Lightfoot has “no doubt that St Paul is here speaking of imparting temporal goods”. Burton speaks of “the fact that those who receive instruction are called upon to contribute to the support of the teacher”. Luther: hearers should “maintain them liberally, and give them that whereby they may be well able to live”. Calvin: “Support is declared to be due to those by whom we are taught in the word”. Chrysostom quotes 1 Cor 9:14, “that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel”. These are their readings.
Implies Because the verb is “share” and what is shared is every good thing (6:6), the text places the one taught and the teacher in a common giving.
Uncertain How support for teachers was arranged in the Galatian churches is open; this background does not fix the meaning of the text.
Claims
- SaysGal 6:6: the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor; 1 Cor 9:11 asks whether it is too much to reap a material harvest from those among whom spiritual seed was sown.
- ImpliesBecause the verb is share and what is shared is every good thing, the text places the one taught and the teacher in a common giving.
- UncertainHow support for teachers was arranged in the Galatian churches is open; the background does not fix the meaning.
Citations
- BSB public domain Gal 6:6; 1 Cor 9:11
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Gal 6:6
- Lightfoot, Galatians public domain Lightfoot, Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (Macmillan, 1914 printing), on Gal 6:6, p. 218 (leaf n237); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain Burton, Galatians (ICC, Scribner 1928 printing of the 1920 edition), on Gal 6:6, p. 335 (leaf n428); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Luther, Galatians (Middleton 1833) public domain Luther, A Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (London, 1833), on Gal 6:6, p. 461 (leaf n567); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Calvin, Galatians (Pringle) public domain Calvin, Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Galatians and Ephesians (CTS, trans. Pringle, 1854), on Gal 6:6, p. 177 (leaf n190); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Chrysostom, Galatians (NPNF1 13) public domain Chrysostom, Commentary on Galatians (NPNF¹ 13, Oxford translation rev. Gross Alexander, 1889), on Gal 6:6, p. 44 (leaf n65); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
2026-11-14
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