This is the last of our Lessons on “one anothering” each other. Biblical “duties” each Christian owes his or her brother or sister in Christ!

And today Galatians 6:2 is our Text. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Helping our Christian friend carry some heavy load thrust upon him or her!

And verse 2, of course, hinges on verse 1, its predecessor. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1

Perhaps “bearing one another’s burdens” and “restoring one another” are similar in meaning, in Paul’s mind and heart as he wrote to the Galatians, a distinct possibility.

Here is Galatians 6:1 with some parentheses inserted, to help define the words. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken (prolambano = “caught off guard”) in a fault (paraptoma = a falling down, as if in a mud hole), ye which are spiritual (filled with the Holy Spirit, thus mature), restore (katartizo = to set a broken bone) such an one in the spirit of meekness (parotes = gentleness, lowliness, not a “better-than-thou” attitude); considering (skopeo = looking carefully, as if through a scope) thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

Yes, doing all this would certainly be bearing the burdens of someone else.

But back to our Text verse now. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

The verb “to bear” (to carry a load) is written in the imperative mood, a command. As have been so many of the one-to-another verses we’ve studied.

This verb “bastazo” also can mean “to remove” a load! Taking it away, if possible!

And the noun “burdens” is “baros,” usually indicating a very HEAVY load.

Two people carrying a load make that thing much more manageable!

Notice the noun “burdens” is plural! More than one? Yes, often that is the case, don’t you agree? (“When it rains, it pours!” … that sort of thing.) Jesus was tempted by the Devil three times in a row, in quick succession! Job’s trials came in a rat-a-tat-tat fashion, machine-gun like! One after another, suddenly, many “burdens!”

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Thus, by bearing those burdens … we fulfil (bring to the top, round out perfectly) the law of Christ! In other words, bearing burdens … is exactly what Jesus would have done had He been in our shoes!

The law of Christ is based on love, anyway.

Should we Christians so help each other … so minister to each other … so emulate our Lord … our Churches would be absolutely transformed!

And the blight of too many “defections,” people getting discouraged and falling by the wayside … would decline significantly. If not altogether cease.

Wow!

I’ve enjoyed these days (twenty-something) studying the “one to another” verses of the New Testament. I pray you have as well. What challenges they present us!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The next-to-last (though I am sure others exist) duty we have to one another is found in 1st Thessalonians 5:13. This is the twenty-second Lesson in our current series of Bible Studies, counting the Introduction.

“And be at peace among yourselves.” Again, this is 1st Thessalonians 5:13, though just the verse’s latter half. I might be “stretching” things a bit … but “among yourselves” is essentially “one to another.”

The verb “be at peace” (one of only 4 words in the Greek Sentence) is an imperative. A blatant command. “Blatant” here means “very obvious.” The Latin “blatero” means “I speak, talk, blabber!” See our colloquial word “blab” therein! The Apostle Paul (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) issues dozens and dozens of commands like this one in his compendious writings.

Yes indeed, we are demanded of the Lord to “be at peace” with one another, we Christians!

And the “heart” of the verb “eireneuo” (“be at peace”) is “eiro,” which means “to join” together two factions that once were disunited, if not downright warring.

Be joined together!

Be “one” in the Lord.

Like a human body, many parts, many members … yet one unit, one organism!

Ah, here is the verse I need. “That there should be no schism (the opposite of “eiro”) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” 1st Corinthians 12:25, where “schism” (in Greek “schisma”) means “a tear, a break, fracture, division.”

The same thought, yet again. “When ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions (“schisma” again) among you; and I partly believe it.” Paul to the Corinthians who were divided on many an issue! This is 1st Corinthians 11:18.

“Among yourselves,” the Text’s closing words, expresses the Greek “en heatou.” Literally “in” yourselves, plural. Every single member of the Church … clothed “in” peace … as far as his or her relationship with every other member is concerned!

So … there is the Christian blessing of “peace with God.”

And consequently, “peace with my brethren!”

These are only possible if one has experienced (at the moment of salvation) … the “Peace of God” deep within his or her heart!

I close … until Monday, the Lord willing.

Amen.

“And be at peace among yourselves.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, one more thing. “Be at peace,” that verb, is in the active voice. I must expend some energy, effort, to make it happen! It is not an automatic condition, due to a halo around my head or something!

 

In Ephesians chapter 5 the Apostle Paul teaches us much about Christian inter-personal relationships. Including this little “nugget,” short but clear: “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” Ephesians 5:21

Just prior to our verse the Holy Spirit has written: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”  Ephesians 5, verses 18-21, then … we may assume “submitting to each other” is a result of being “filled with the Spirit!” Just as being joyful and thankful are fruits of His Fullness.

Wow!

Then, immediately following “Submitting yourselves one to another ” comes Bible instructions about “Wives to Husbands” and “Husbands to Wives” duties. Things like: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” And then “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”

So … our verse today is “in good company.”

Let’s talk about it.

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

One might not be able to obey this one … apart from living under the “fear of the Lord.” The word (“phobos”) means “respect, reverence,” and essentially (in this setting) “worship.”

We will live best “with each other” when we are living best “toward God!”

Always!

The Ten Commandments begin by getting us right with God … then continue by getting us right with our fellow human beings!

Now to the key participle “submitting.”

It is “hupotasso” in Greek.

And it’s actually a pretty strong word!

With military undertones.

It means “to put in place” … “underneath” someone else.

Humble yourself.

Lower yourself.

Make yourself less … than another!

Yield to him or her.

(As she yields back to you, mutually so.)

This attitude would surely squelch dissention, would it not?

No more “my way or no way” bullying!

Another definition, “to be subordinate.”

And Thayer’s Lexicon actually says, “to obey.”

Now … with those thoughts in mind, I leave you with the verse. With you and the Holy Spirit anyway. Work it out to your own satisfaction, under His guidance.

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The Text verse is Romans 12:10. We studied most of it earlier in the Series. But one phrase (“in honour”) yet needs to be developed. I’m actually calling it the “honouring one another” clause.

“In honour preferring one another.” Romans 12:10, and we’ve already defined the participle “preferring.” It means “to let the other person go first.” When viewed objectively, anyway.

But “proegeomai” can also carry the idea of “you going first,” not in a selfish sense, of course. Of “you going first” in doing right. In setting an example! One Bible teacher translates the verb “to outdo” the others!

But wait a minute.

“Outdoing” him or her … in what area?

How?

In the area of “honour!”

Romans 12:10 again, its second half … “in honour preferring one another.”

The noun “honour” is “time” in Greek, and is pronounced “tee-may.”

It means “an evaluation,” a declaration of what a person or thing is “worth” to you!

The emphasis here is that our respect for the brethren should be on the “high” end of the scales! Let them be “heavy” on your “values chart!”

Treat them with dignity, not with “frivolity, lightness” and certainly not with “disdain.”

I am to so evaluate my friends in Christ!

As an example, look at Galatians 6:10. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, ESPECIALLY unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Be good to everyone.

But, if for some reason a choice must be made … sharing with either the sinner or the saint … then undoubtedly (Paul tells us) choose the Brother in Christ!

That’s “in honour preferring one another!”

Never “belittle” one another!

After all, that “fellow follower” in Christ … he or she is the very habiting place for the Holy Spirit of God, in this age of Grace anyway.

Thus honor him with that astounding fact in mind!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Twice I find this duty we Christians have, mutually.

Once as a prayer: “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be LIKEMINDED one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6, “be likeminded one toward another!

Then once as a “way of life” statement: “Be of the SAME MIND one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.” Romans 12 (Paul’s great Classic Piece on Christian behavior), verse 16.

By looking at both these references simultaneously, we might be able to build a synthesis of intent. What did the Apostle (Paul) mean? What does the Holy Spirit have in mind here?

The state of being “likeminded” cannot possible mean fully agreeing with every thought and intent and feeling of all the brothers and sisters at church. Not in all areas of life.

One might like cherry pie, the other chocolate cake!

But likemindedness does mean “being willing to understand” the feelings and thoughts and intentions of the brethren. Getting “into his or her mind,” to empathize with their point of view.

The “likeminded” word is actually “phroneo,” meaning “to have understanding.” To “feel from the heart,” from “deep down inside” anyway. “Phren” is the Greek noun for one’s “midriff, diaphragm!” Then one’s “heart.” Next it came to mean one’s “brain, mind.”

See if you can figure … where that brother or sister is “coming from,” in their convictions or aspirations or actions.

That’s being “likeminded.”

Another aspect of this grace is seen in Romans 12:16, printed earlier for your perusal. We are to “condescend” to people of “low estate.” Here’s the essence: “Getting down on someone’s level, without feeling you are superior to him or her in any way!”

Even “be not wise” employs the “phronimos” stem.

We are not being commanded “unanimity,” rather “unity.”

Here’s Paul’s “ideal” in this area, written to the schismatic Corinthians even! “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1st Corinthians 1:10, Wow!

This verse deserves a whole Lesson, or more!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I needed the material just written today! I feel the Lord may use these very words of Scripture … to make me a better follower of Him, of Jesus my Saviour.