Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin
CHAPTER 6
our rejoicing is this, the testimony of a good conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world.'' (2 Corinthians 1:12.)
Our Lord himself instructs us: ``But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.'' (Matthew 6:6.)
Strictly speaking, he makes no assertion, but leads us to conclude, that, when a man is valued for his own worth, and not for the baseness of others, the praise is just and substantial. The statement is therefore conditional, and imports that none are entitled to be regarded as good men, who are not found to be so, apart from the consideration of others.
5. For every man shall bear his own burdens. To destroy sloth and pride, he brings before us the judgment of God, in which every individual for himself, and without a comparison with others, will give an account of his life. It is thus that we are deceived; for, if a man who has but one eye is placed among the blind, he considers his vision to be perfect; and a tawny person among negroes thinks himself white. The apostle affirms that the false conclusions to which we are thus conducted will find no place in the judgment of God; because there every one will bear his own burden, and none will stand acquitted by others from their own sins. This is the true meaning of the words.
Galatians 6:6-10
Galatians 6:6-10
6. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
6. Coremunicet is, qui instituitur in sermone, cum doctore, in omnibus bonis. 7. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
7. Ne erretis: Deus non subsannatur; quod enim seminaverit homo, hoc etiam metet.
8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
8. Nam qui seminat carni suae, ex carne metet corruptionem; qui autem seminat Spiritui, ex Spiritu metet vitam aeternam.
9. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
9. Bonum antem faciendo ne defatigemur; nam si non defecerimus, metemus opportuno tempore.
10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith..