Help Each Other

6 Brothers and sisters, if ·someone in your group [^La person] ·does something wrong [or is overcome by some trangression/sin; or is discovered/caught in some trangression/sin], you who are spiritual should go to that person and ·gently help make him right again [restore him gently/with a gentle spirit]. But be careful, ·because you might [or so that you won’t] be tempted to sin, too. ² By ·helping each other with your troubles [^Lbearing each other’s burdens], you truly ·obey [accomplish; fulfill] the law of Christ. ³ If anyone thinks he is ·important [^Lsomething] when he really is not, he is only ·fooling [deceiving; deluding] himself. ⁴ Each person should ·judge [examine; test] his own ·actions [or achievements; ^Lwork] and not compare himself with others. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done. ⁵ Each person ·must be responsible for himself [^Lwill carry their own load].

⁶ Anyone who is ·learning the teaching of God [being instructed in the word] should share all the good things he has with his teacher.

Life Is like Planting a Field

⁷ Do not be ·fooled [deceived; mistaken]: You cannot ·cheat [mock; make a fool of] God. People ·harvest only what they plant [reap what they sow]. ⁸ If they plant ·to satisfy [or in the field of; ^Linto; to] their ·sinful selves [sinful nature; flesh], ·their sinful selves will bring them ruin [^Lthey will reap destruction from the flesh]. But if they plant ·to please [or in the field of; ^Linto; to] the Spirit, they will ·receive [reap; harvest] eternal life from the Spirit. ⁹ We must not become ·tired [or discouraged] of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life ·at the right [or in due] time if we do not give up. ¹⁰ [^LTherefore; So then] When we have the opportunity to ·help [do good to] anyone, we should do it. But ·we should give special attention [^Lespecially] to those who are in the ·family [household] of ·believers [^Lfaith].

Paul Ends His Letter

¹¹ See what large letters I use to write this ·myself [^Lwith my own hand; ^Cadded to authenticate the letter; the rest had likely been dictated]. ¹² Some people are trying to force you to be circumcised ·so the Jews will accept them [or to impress others by external standards; ^Lto make a good showing in the flesh]. They do this only to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ [^Cthe Gospel message of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross]. ¹³ [^LFor] Those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so they can ·brag [boast] ·about what they forced you to do [^Lin your flesh]. ¹⁴ ·I hope I will never [^LMay it never be that I] ·brag [boast] about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. ·Through that cross [or Through Jesus Christ; ^L…through which/whom] the world has been crucified to me and I have been crucified to the world. ¹⁵ It ·is not important [makes no difference; is nothing] if a man is circumcised or uncircumcised. The important thing is ·being the new people God has made [^La new creation; 2 Cor. 5:17]. ¹⁶ Peace and mercy to those who ·follow [walk/live by] this rule—and to ·all of God’s people [^Lthe Israel of God; ^Ceither: (1) Jewish Christians or (2) the church as the “new Israel”].

¹⁷ ·So [or In conclusion; or From now on] do not give me any more trouble. [^LFor] I ·have scars on my body that show I belong to Jesus [^Lbear the marks of Jesus on my body; ^Cfrom his many beatings for the Gospel; perhaps also indicating his “branding” as a slave of Jesus Christ].

¹⁸ My brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.