Galatians 6:1 – You who are spiritual

Brethren, if a man should be precipitated, also, in some offense, you who are spiritual, be attuning such a one, in a spirit of meekness, noting yourself, that you also, may not be tried.

Most translations here speak of a person who is ‘caught’ or ’taken by surprise’. The other two times the Greek word (“prolambano,” derived from “for” and “take”) is used, it has the meaning of “to prepare” or “anticipate.” If we assume that meaning, then the idea here is apparently that someone is in danger of becoming the victim of committing a misstep. Whichever.

Paul here addresses “you who are spiritual”, that is, those who are led by, or walk in, Spirit (5:16,25). They would take care of such an unsuspecting prey and to ‘be attuning such a one’ (for this Greek word ‘kaartizo’ see also Mar.1:19 concerning the repair of the fishing nets).

Bringing back or attuning another one may sound a little condescending. But Paul emphasizes that only a “spirit of meekness” is appropriate when we correct another. After all, meekness characterizes “the fruit of the Spirit” (5:22) and disdain and arrogance are completely misplaced. Anyone who has some self-knowledge realizes that it is so easy to stumble as soon as the going gets tough. Only One is able to make us stand (Rom. 14:4)!

Delen: