Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
The King James Translation of these passages simply states these. Aren’t they contradictory?
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THE MEANING:
1. Burden as used in Gal 6:2 is the Greek: baros – Heaviness, weight, burden, trouble, figuratively a load, a burden (-some), weight.
In Gal 6:2, the word “burden” (baros) refers to the trials and troubles of life, which every person will experience. The Lord Jesus said that in this world, we will have tribulation (John 16:33). Whether it’s a health crisis, family issues, or some other trouble that may arise in our lives—whether through our own choices or simply because we live in a fallen world—these challenges will come our way. As Christians, we are called to reach out to people in such situations and seek to support them, helping them bear their burdens.
2. Burden, Load as used in Gal 6:5 is the Greek: phortion – burden, load; metaphorically: burdensome rites; the obligations Christ lays upon his followers.
Galatians 6:5, on the other hand, speaks about each of us carrying our own load or task. You can think of it as the chores expected of you from a master. It refers to the service or duties expected of every believer in the Lord even though you may carry more than you should. This means that every believer is responsible for the work apportioned to them by God.
Figuratively, it means a service or task apportioned to someone.
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Burdens are Loads
It is the same word used in Matthew 11:30: For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load (phortion) is light. The Lord Jesus is speaking about the labour of service expected of everyone who follows Him.
No one should impose their own responsibility or work on others; everyone should serve because each will receive a reward for their own labour (1 Corinthians 3:8, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Colossians 3:23-24).
Each person is to use the spiritual gifts and graces given to them to serve the body of Christ. In fact, verse 4 explains this clearly, stating that each person should examine their own work so that they will have a reason to rejoice.
This “load” is what we will be held accountable for before God on the Day of Judgment. Everyone will be held responsible for how they used their opportunities to serve while on earth, and will receive a reward accordingly.
Next, we will see how you can carry a heavier burden than is expected from you by the Lord. This is usually due to whoever you submit to or due to personal ignorance.
What if the bond of love is still so strong? What should they do? Let’s see the fate of divorced lovebirds in this episode!