Burdens and load (6:2–5)
Says Galatians 6:2 reads ἀλλήλων τὰ βάρη βαστάζετε (allēlōn ta barē bastazete, “bear one another’s burdens”): βάρος, “weight; a weight, burden”; βαστάζω, “to bear, to carry, as a burden”. Then καὶ οὕτως ἀναπληρώσετε τὸν νόμον τοῦ Χριστοῦ, a future; Abbott-Smith gives ἀναπληρόω with “the law” as “observe perfectly”.
Uncertain What “the law of Christ” denotes is not defined in the verse. No lean is taken here.
Says In 6:3 the one who thinks himself something φρεναπατᾷ ἑαυτόν: φρεναπατάω, “to deceive”. In 6:4 each is to test τὸ δὲ ἔργον ἑαυτοῦ (δοκιμάζω, “to test, try, prove”), and then he will have τὸ καύχημα, “ground or matter of glorying”.
Says Galatians 6:5 uses another noun: ἕκαστος γὰρ τὸ ἴδιον φορτίον βαστάσει, a future; φορτίον is “a burden, load”. The BSB has “For each one should carry his own load”.
Uncertain The verse does not say whether the load is borne now or at the judgment. No lean is taken here.
Claims
- SaysGalatians 6:2 says to bear one another’s burdens (βάρη), and so fulfill the law of Christ.
- SaysGalatians 6:4–5 says each is to test his own work, for each will bear his own load (φορτίον), a different noun.
- UncertainWhat ’the law of Christ’ denotes, and when the load of 6:5 is borne, are not settled here; no lean is taken.
Citations
- BSB public domain Gal 6:2–5
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Gal 6:2–5
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. βάρος (G922) —
weight; a weight, burden
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. βαστάζω (G941) —
to bear, to carry, as a burden
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. ἀναπληρόω (G378) —
observe perfectly
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. φρεναπατάω (G5422) —
to deceive
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. δοκιμάζω (G1381) —
to test, try, prove
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. καύχημα (G2745) —
ground or matter of glorying
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. φορτίον (G5413) —
a burden, load
2026-11-14
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