WHO BEARS THE GUILT? (GALATIANS 6:2, 5)

Galatians 6:2-5 Who bears the guilt?

Here is another supposed contradiction found in the Bible: In Galatians 6:2 it says that we are to bear the guilt of others while Galatians 6:5 says that we bear our own guilt.

The first response we should have when confronted by a Bible “contradiction” between two verses found so close together is that the author must have been especially obtuse to have blundered so badly. Since we know that Paul, whatever his faults might have been, was a brilliant thinker, there must be another reasonable explanation.

The second thing to notice is that whatever translation or paraphrase you use, you won't find the word “guilt” in it at all. Instead, something like “burden” is used. “Guilt” is simply a misleading translation of the critic.

The second thing you will notice, unless you are using the King James Version, is that different English words are used for “burden” in these two verses. Here the KJV conveys the incorrect idea that the original Greek was identical in both cases. It wasn't. Almost all other translations use two different words or phrases to show that different Greek words were utilized – baros in v. 2 and phortion in v. 5. So unless Paul was just trying to add a little variety to his writing style, we might infer that he had somewhat different ideas in mind in these two verses. This is reflected in what you will find by comparing different translations:

Translation                                      Verse 2                                             Verse 5

RSV, NRSV, TEV, NASB, NIV     burden(s)                                          load(s)

J. B. Phillips                                  burdens                                             pack

NEB                                               heavy loads                                      proper burden

Jerusalem Bible                             troubles                                            burdens

Living Bible                                 troubles & problems                         faults & burdens

At this point it is necessary to look at word studies to try to distinguish between these two Greek words. An analytical concordance such as Young's or Strong's will say that baros means “weight” and phortion has the underlying meaning of “load,” but that really doesn't distinguish between the two words that much.

Vine's Word Study gives a little more information by saying that baros is “anything that makes a demand one one's resources, whether material, or spiritual, or religious.” By contrast, phortion is “that which will be the result, at the Judgment-Seat of Christ, of each believer's work.”

The more detailed New International Dictionary of NT Theology (vol. 1, pp. 260-263) explains the difference between the two words in a slightly different way: In Gal. 6:2 Paaul encourages his readers to bear one another's burdens. They ought to come to the aid of one another, if overtaken by a fault. The joint bearing of suffering is not excluded. Such joint bearing does not do away with the personal responsibility of Christians. Consequently, everyone has also to bear his own load (phortion, v. 5) before God.”

Other resource books that most Christians do not avail themselves of nearly enough are commentaries. I realize that most people do not have the money to purchase or space to store detailed commentaries on each book of the Bible. However, single-volume references or two-volume commentary sets (one for the OT and one for the NT) are within the capabilities of most Christians to have in their home libraries. But keep in mind that since these reference books have to cover a large amount of ground in a limited number of pages, they may not adequately address all the questions and concerns you have concerning problem passages. I would suggest that, if possible, you chose a typical problem passage and see what the various commentaries have to say concerning it before purchasing one. In lieu of that, look at the credentials and theological background of the author(s) for possible guidance on which one to buy.

Here are what three sample commentaries happen to say about Galatians 6:2-5:

New Bible Commentary: Regarding v. 5, “The term load designates what each man must bear for himself, like a soldier his own knapsack, which is his own responsibility, and is to be distinguished from the additional burdens of v. 2.”

International Bible Commentary: “These verses have in mind, respectively, oppressive trials or difficulties (v. 2), and due responsibilities (v. 5).”

Bible Knowledge Commentary specifically states that v. 5 does not contradict v. 2 since that reference is to “heavy, crushing loads – more than a man could carry without help” while phortion in v. 5 “is the 'burden' Jesus assigns to His followers (cf. Matt. 11:30). There are certain Christian responsibilities or burdens each believer must bear which cannot be shared with others.”

So although there are slightly different explanations given for distinguishing between the two verses, they all agree that that there is no contradiction there.