(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Bearing Burdens
- Brothers, even if a man is overtaken in some misstep1“misstep”. The Greek word used here doesn’t quite mean “sin”. It’s the word “παράπτωμα” (paraptóma) and carries the connotation of a “slip-up” with the strong implication – but not certainty – that it was unintentional. you (the spiritual men) restore such a man in a spirit of gentle strength, while watching yourself lest you also be tempted.
- Bear one another’s burdens and thus you will fulfill the law of the Anointed.
- For if someone thinks himself to be something while being nothing, he deceives himself.
- But let each man test the work that he himself does, and then he will have a boast for himself alone and not for another.
- For each will bear his own load.
Sowing and Reaping
- Now, let the man being taught the word share in all good things with the man teaching.
- Don’t be misled; God isn’t mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
- For the man sowing into his own flesh will reap ruinous corruption from the flesh. But the man sowing into the Spirit will reap the life of ages2“life of ages” is literal, and captures the duration as well as the quality of the life, which the traditional interpretation of “eternal life” doesn’t. The word translated “ages” (αἰώνιον) is the adjective form of the Greek word “αἰών” (aion), which is used – for example – in Matthew 24:3 “what are the signs of your coming and the end of the age?” from the Spirit.
- And we shouldn’t grow weary while doing good, for we will reap our own harvest at an opportune time after not growing faint.
- So therefore, as we have an opportune time, we should do good toward all men, but especially toward the men of the household of faith.
Conclusion and Closing
- See how I wrote to you in large letters with my own hand.
- As many as want to look good in the flesh, these men compel you to be circumcised; but only so they aren’t persecuted for the cross of Jesus the Anointed.
- For not even the men being circumcised keep the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so they might boast in your flesh.
- But for me to boast; may it never be! Except in the cross of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
- For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but be a new creation.
- And as many as will walk by this standard, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
- From now on, let no one give me wearying troubles, for I bear the brand-marks3“brand marks” refers to marks cut into the skin of slaves to show who their owner was. Sometimes they were cut in and scarred, other times they were burned in, like how cattle were branded in the American west. of Jesus on my body.
- The grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed be with your spirit brothers, amen.
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