Galatians 6:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

NIV: Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

NASB: The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.

CSB: Let the one who is taught the word share all his good things with the teacher.

NLT: Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

KJV: Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

NKJV: Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

Paul is providing a series of instructions to the Galatian Christians for how those in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, should live together.

This verse serves as part of the basis for the practice of Christian churches paying their pastors out of the voluntary giving of the people. One of the spiritual gifts mentioned in several passages in the New Testament is that of pastor/teacher. These are people given the unique ability by God to teach His Word to others. Sometimes, those with this gift make teaching in the church their full-time occupation.

Paul does not go into that level of detail here. Instead he simply says that those who are taught the Word, meaning the Scriptures, should share "all good things" with those who teach. Since this verse comes immediately after Paul's instruction that each of us must bear our load, he may be implying that providing for those who teach the Word is part of the load each of us should carry.

Galatians 6:1–10 focuses on how those in Christ should treat each other, through the power of God's Spirit. We should restore those caught in sin with gentleness and humility, and we should help to carry each other's burdens. Having said that, Christians should be honest with ourselves about what God is doing through us. We need to take responsibility for what He has asked us to carry. Because eternal life comes from planting God's Spirit by faith in Christ, and not by works of the flesh, we must keep doing good. The harvest will show that we planted well.

Galatians 6 includes instructions for how people who are free in Christ and walking by God's Spirit, should treat each other. Christians should restore those who are caught by sin, and we should bear each other's burdens. Only those who plant the fruit of God's Spirit, by faith in Christ, will harvest eternal life. Believers should not get tired of doing good for each other! The harvest is coming. Paul concludes the letter, writing in large letters that circumcision means nothing. Only becoming a new creation through faith in Christ matters.

Galatians 5 wrapped up with a focus on what it means to be led by God's Spirit. Galatians 6 starts with describing how Spirit-led Christians serve each other by restoring those caught be sin and bearing each other's burdens. Only those who plant God's Spirit in this life, through faith in Christ, will harvest eternal life. Paul concludes the letter by writing in big letters that circumcision does not matter, only being made a new creation by faith in Christ matters.

Galatians is sometimes called “a short Romans” for its similar themes of justification and sanctification through faith. A group of Christians known as “Judaizers” were preaching a gospel of legalism, rather than grace. Paul’s main purpose in writing the letter to the Galatians was to reiterate the true nature of the gospel: we are justified (made righteous) and sanctified (made more Christlike) through our faith in Jesus Christ alone. This letter was probably written shortly before the church elders in Jerusalem issued their official refutation of the Judaizers, commonly called the Jerusalem Council.

Accessed 5/6/2024 12:11:21 PM