AN ALLEGED CONTRADICTION

Robert Meredith

  Do Galatians 6:2 and 6:5 contradict each other?  Certainly not!  The passages in question read as follows:  “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2); and “For every man shall bear his own burden” (Gal. 6:5).  When one examines these passages closely, he will see that there is no contradiction.

  In Galatians 6:2 the Apostle Paul is exhorting the spiritually strong to help the weaker brother.  The word “burden”, as found in verse 2 means load.  Some burdens, or loads, are to be shared.  To the saints at Philippi, Paul wrote, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Phil. 2:4).  Here the Holy Spirit is instructing Christians to look after others and to not be self-centered.  When one is over-taken in a fault (Gal. 6:1), the stronger should try with the right attitude to restore the erring.  And in doing this he will be fulfilling the law of Christ (Mt. 22:39).  The word restore in verse 1 means “to set in joint again.”  When one has encouraged another to be restored to the Lord, he has indeed helped “bear one another’s burdens.”  However, to “bear ye one another’s burdens” also has a broader meaning.  Not only can one help the spiritually weak, but also one can help those with the burden of sorrow (Rom. 12:15) or the burdens of leadership, whether civil or religious (Heb. 13:17; Eph. 6:19-20; 1 Tim. 2:1-2).  Therefore, by living right ourselves, believing in people and encouraging others, one can help bear other’s burdens.

  Paul, in Galatians 6:5, says, “For every man shall bear his own burden.”  Here the word “burden” means pack.  There are some things that only I can do for myself.  The Lord has given each of us our own work (Gal. 6:4), and no one else can do certain things for us.  John 6:29 tells us that faith is a work.  No one else can believe for you, it is something you must do (Heb. 11:6).  Furthermore, no one can repent of your sins for you, but it is a pack you must carry, or complete (Lk. 13:3; Acts 17:30; 2 Pet. 3:9).  No one can confess Christ for you or be baptized into Him for you (Rom. 10:10; Gal. 3:26-27).  No one can live the Christian life for you.  It is the individual Christian’s responsibility to practice pure religion (James 1:27).

  The Bible teaches that there are some burdens that we can share.  We are to help each other live as Christ would have us.  Also, there are certain burdens that one must bear on his own (gospel obedience and the performance of one’s Christian duties).  Let us help others where we can (Gal. 6:2), carry our own pack that we must (Gal. 6:5), and remember that when the burdens of life become too great, that the Christian can “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee” (Ps. 55:22; see also 1 Pet. 5:7).