Gal 6:2 and 6:5 - bearing burdens

Polycarp66 at aol.com Polycarp66 at aol.com
Tue Jul 23 15:34:40 EDT 2002


In a message dated 7/23/2002 11:50:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
susan at read-the-bible.org writes:

I've been studying the last 2 chapters of Galatians and Gal 6:1-5 keeps 
grabbing me.  What's with these "burdens" to be borne?

In 6:2 it seems like we're supposed to be "bearing one another's burdens" 
ALLHLWN TA BARH BASTAZETE with respect to our siblings who have 
transgressed (v.1).  Such a burden, cf Louw-Nida 22.4, is a "hardship which 
is regarded as particularly burdensome and exhausting." <snip>
But then in 6:5 HEKATOS GAR TO IDION FORION BASTASEI.  Here the "burden" 
(NIV & NRSV "load") I suppose doesn't have such a connotation of 
odiousness; more neutral, just baggage, heavy, but perhaps worth 
carrying.  Louw-Nida 15.208 says "a relatively object which is carried" and 
some other 15s nearby include  hAIRW, BASTAZW, AGW.

So I'm wondering how I should be thinking about these 2 verses. 

Then in 6:3-4, don't think you're so great; quit comparing yourself to 
someone else (presumably the one PROLAMBANOed in PARAPTWMA), but rather 
(6.5) HEKATOS GAR TO IDION FORION BASTASEI.

My question is, are these 2 different, even contrasting things to be borne 
(BASTAZWed)?  My brother's faults, which are heavy and odious, and my own 
characteristics, which, while sometimes heavy, are more neutral?  Or are 
the two words BAROS and FORTION being used more synonymously?

I'm also thinking of this in relation to Jesus' words in Matt 7 -- even 
though it's really a mote in my brother's eye and a beam in mine, it SEEMS 
like a beam in his and a mote in mine -- which is why my instinct  is to 
give him a hard time and let myself off easy.
________________________

Although there are two different words used here for the burden to be borne, 
I don't think you'll find your answer in the lexicography.  There is one 
interesting point regarding FORTION -- it is used of cargo in ships -- which 
may have some slight bearing, but I wouldn't want to press it. 

What does strike me is the relationship of the phrases to the context. In v. 
1 he sets up the general condition that whenever someone fails, others are to 
restore them.  In this context he gives the command to bear one another's 
burdens which would then seem to be those of sucumbing to evil. 

In v. 5 we see the conjunction GAR indicating that this is a conclusion of 
what precedes which is that each should examine his own works.  The works one 
does would then seem to be the "cargo" one must bear for himself.

gfsomsel




More information about the B-Greek mailing list