Galatians Chapter VI Part 2

Translation: The Orthodox New Testament, Holy Apostles Convent, Buena Vista, CO, 1999.

7 Cease being led astray, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that also shall he reap.

1. We cast our own punishment
“For he will render to every man according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality. (Romans 2:6-11)”

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but the one who sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

1. Sin and virtue have consequences
“…he that plants in the flesh, wantonness, drunkenness, or inordinate desire, shall reap the fruits of these things. And what are these fruits? Punishment, vengeance, shame, derision, destruction. For of sumptuous tables and tasty dishes the end is no other than destruction; for they both perish themselves, and destroy the body too. But the fruit of the Spirit is of a nature not similar but contrary in all respects to these. For consider; have you sown alms-giving? The treasures of heaven and eternal glory await you: have you sown temperance? Honor and reward, and the applause of Angels, and a crown from the Prize-bestower await thee. (Chrysostom, Galatians, Chapter 6)”

9 And let us not be losing heart while doing that which is good; for in due time we shall reap, if we faint not. 10. So then, as we have opportunity, let us be working that which is good towards all, and most of all towards those of the household of faith.

1. Good works are to be done to all, especially to members of the Church
“…(He) command(s) us to show mercy both to Jews and Greeks, in the proper gradation indeed, but still to show mercy. And what is this gradation? It consists in bestowing greater care upon the faithful. . . ," hereby especially also setting them free from the narrow-mindedness of the Jews. For the whole of their philanthropy was confined to their own race, but the rule of life which Grace gives takes the whole land and sea as the table of mercy, even while it also shows the greater care that is due towards one’s household. (Chrysostom, Galatians, Chapter 6)”

2. As we are able to – so let us do

“As it is not always in our power to sow, so neither is it to show mercy; for when we have been carried hence, though we may desire it a thousand times, we shall be able to effect nothing more. To this argument of ours the Ten Virgins (Mat. xxv: 1 ff) bear witness, who although they wished it a thousand times, yet were shut out from the bridegroom, because they brought with them no bountiful charity. And so does the rich man who neglected Lazarus (Luke xvi: 19.) for he, being destitute of this succor, although he wept and made many entreaties, won no compassion from the Patriarch, or any one else, but continued destitute of all forgiveness, and tormented with perpetual fire. (Chrysostom, Galatians, Chapter 6)”

11 See with what size letters I am writing to you with my own hand.

1. A Personal Letter
" By this he signifies that he had written the whole letter himself, which was a proof of great sincerity. . . And this he did by necessity, not from affection merely, but in order to remove an injurious suspicion. . . . By the expression "what size," he appears to me to signify, not the magnitude, but, the misshapen appearance of the letters, as if he had said, "Although not well skilled in writing, I have been compelled to write with my own hand to stop the mouth of these traducers." (Chrysostom, Galatians, Chapter 6)”

12. As many as wish to make a good show in the flesh, these constrain you to be circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted for the Cross of Christ. 13. For not even they themselves who are circumcised keep the law, but they wish you to be circumcised, in order that they might boast in your flesh.

1. Seeking the praise of men over the praise of God

“What is the meaning of " boast in your flesh?" it means, to be esteemed by men. As they were reviled by the Jews for deserting the customs of their fathers, they desired, says he, to injure you, that they may not have this charged against them, but vindicate themselves by means of your flesh. His object here is to show that they did not act from respect to God; it is as if he said, This procedure is not founded in piety, all this is done through human ambition . . . they choose to offend God that they may please men; for this is the meaning of, "to boast in your flesh. (Chrysostom, Galatians, Chapter 6)”

14. But mat it not be for me to boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.

1. To boast in the Cross?

“And what is the boast of the Cross? That Christ for my sake took on Him the form of a slave, and bore His sufferings for me the slave, the enemy, the unfeeling one; He so loved me as to give Himself up to a curse for me. What can be comparable to this! . . . Let us then not be ashamed of His unspeakable tenderness; He was not ashamed of being crucified for your sake, and will you be ashamed to confess His infinite kindness? It is as if a prisoner who had not been ashamed of his King, should, after that King had come to the prison and himself loosed the chains, become ashamed of him on that account. (Chrysostom, Galatians, Chapter 6)”

2. Death To The World – a foundation of the blessed life

“What he here calls the world is neither the heaven nor the earth, but the affairs of life, the praise of the people, attendants, glory, wealth, and all such things as have a show of splendor. To me these things are dead. Such it behooves a Christian to be, and always to use this language. Nor was he content with the former putting to death, but added another, saying, ‘and I unto the world,’ thus implying a double putting to death, and saying, They are dead to me, and I to them, neither can they captivate and overcome me, for they are dead once for all, nor can I desire them, for I too am dead to them. Nothing can be more blessed than this putting to death, for it is the foundation of the blessed life. (Chrysostom, Galatians, Chapter 6)”

15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision has any strength, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16. And as many as walk by this rule, peace be upon them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

1. New Creations in Baptism – the new Israel

“This our rule of life he calls ‘a new creature,’ both on account of what is past, and of what is to come; of what is past, because our soul, which had grown old with the oldness of sin, has been all at once renewed by baptism, as if it had been created again. Wherefore we require a new and heavenly rule of life. And of things to come, because both the heaven and the earth, and all the creation, shall with our bodies be translated into incorruption. . . . seek the new things of grace. For they who pursue these things shall enjoy peace and philanthropy, and may properly be called the name ‘Israel.’ While they who hold contrary sentiments, although they be descended from him (Israel) and bear his name, have yet fallen away from all these things, both the relationship and the name itself. But it is in their power to be true Israelites, who keep this rule, who desist from the old ways, and follow after grace. (Chrysostom, Galatians, Chapter 6)”

17 Henceforth, let no one be giving me troubles, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

1. The stigmata of experience

“He says not, ‘I have,’ but, ‘ bear,’like a man priding himself on trophies and royal ensigns. Although on a second thought it seems a disgrace, yet does his man vaunt of his wounds, and like military standard-bearers, so does he exult in bearing about these wounds. And why does he say this? . . . For no one who saw a soldier retiring from the battle bathed in blood and with a thousand wounds, would dare to accuse him of cowardice and treachery, seeing that he bears on his body the proofs of his valor, and so ought ye, he says, to judge of me. (Chrysostom, Galatians, Chapter 6)”

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

1. The benefits of Prayer and Teaching
“On this account he concluded his exhoration with a prayer, reminding them of grace and the Spirit, and at the same time addressing them as brethren, and supplicating God that they might continue to enjoy these blessings, thus providing for them a twofold security. For both prayer and teaching, tended to the same thing and together became to them as a double wall. For teaching, reminding them of what benefits they enjoyed, and rather kept them in the doctrine of the Church; and prayer, invoking grace, and exhorting to an enduring constancy, permitted not the Spirit to depart from them. And He abiding in them, all the error of such doctrines as they held was shaken off like dust. (Chrysostom, Galatians, Chapter 6)”