Galatians 6:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“And so fulfill the law of Christ.” He did not say “fulfill” (plerosate), but “complete” (anaplerosate), that is: “Fulfill it all together by your common strength, bearing one another's defects.”

For example, one man is quick-tempered, and you are sluggish. In that case bear his stormy impulses, so that he may bear your sluggishness. Thus he will not sin when he meets condescension from you. You also will not err, once your brother bears in you what is burdensome to him.

Therefore, give one another a helping hand when there is danger of falling. Fulfill the law by your common strength, each one supplying his neighbor's defects by patience. If you do not act this way, but each judges his neighbor's actions, you will never attain what you ought to attain.

So too with the body. If someone demands the same service from all its members, the body will in no way stand. Likewise great enmity will arise among the brethren if we demand everything from each person.

Thus, by giving one another your hands, fulfill the law of Christ through mutual assistance. Each one, by helping his neighbor, supplies what is lacking in him. The debt of love also requires us to bear one another's burdens, because the fulfillment of Christ's commandments is contained in love.

Therefore, whoever does not despise his brother's salvation, but stretches out a hand to the one who asks, and, as far as he can, weeps with those who weep, is weak with the weak, and regards another's sins as his own, fulfills the law of Christ through love.

In addition, He has given us patience through participation in the Spirit, and the future goods “which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man” (1 Cor 2:9). Therefore He accepts temptations for our sake. He endures reproaches, mockery, bonds, betrayal, blows on the cheeks, vinegar and gall to drink, nails, crucifixion, and the piercing of the spear.

Thus, having united Himself with us both in flesh and in spirit, and having accepted sufferings for our sake, He then handed this law down to the holy apostles and disciples, to the prophets, fathers, and patriarchs. Some He had previously taught by the Holy Spirit, and to others He showed it by His most pure Body.

Revealing this taking upon Himself, He said, “Do not fear; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). Likewise: “For their sake I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth” (Jn 17:19). And again: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13).

Therefore Saint Paul also, imitating the Lord, said: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for His Body, which is the Church” (Col 1:24). He was mystically indicating this taking upon oneself through love.

Do you wish to know more clearly how all the apostles entered into communion with us in thought, word, and deed, and through this communion bore temptations for our sake? They did this in thought by setting forth the Scriptures to us, by adducing prophecies, by exhorting us to believe in Christ as Deliverer, by assuring us that we must serve Him as the Son of God by nature, by praying for us, by shedding tears, and by doing everything that the faithful can do in thought.

They did it in words by entreating us, threatening us, teaching, reproving, rebuking us for unbelief, censuring our ignorance, explaining the Scriptures, revealing the time, confessing Christ, and preaching that He was crucified for our sake. They affirmed that the Word Who became man is one and not two, though we understand Him as consisting of two natures, united indivisibly and without confusion.

At every time, in every place, and in every deed, they cut off impiety. They did not agree with falsehood. They did not converse with those who boasted according to the flesh. They did not remain with the vainglorious. They did not fear the proud. They humbled the wicked, received the humble, made the pious their own, and taught us to do the same.

They did it by deeds, being persecuted, mocked, deprived, insulted, afflicted, cast into prisons, killed, and suffering such things for our sake. Thus, entering into communion with us, they accepted our temptations as well. For they say: “If we are afflicted, it is for your salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your consolation.”

They received the law from the Lord, Who said, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). And they handed the same down to us, saying, “Because He laid down His life for us, we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 Jn 3:16). And again: “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2).

Our commentators chiefly explain this general law. Theodoret writes: “You have one defect and not another. He, on the contrary, does not have the defect you have, but has another. You bear his defect, and let him bear yours. Thus the law of love is fulfilled. For the Apostle called love the law of Christ. These are Christ's words: A new commandment I give you, that you love one another (Jn 13:34).”

These are the words of Saint Chrysostom: “Since it is impossible, being human, to live without stain, the Apostle urges us not to be severe judges of others' failings. Rather, we must patiently bear the defects of our neighbors, so that others may bear our own defects. One man is quick-tempered, and you are sleepy and sluggish. Bear his quick temper, so that he may bear your sluggishness and sleepiness. Thus, by giving one another a helping hand when there is danger of falling, fulfill the law by your common strength. Let each supply his neighbor's defects by patience. If you do not act this way, but each only judges his neighbor's actions, you will never attain what you ought to attain, namely active mutual love.”

Blessed Jerome applies his interpretation also to the condition of the Galatian Christians at that time. “Burdens are sins, as the psalmist testifies: For as a heavy burden they are heavy upon me (Ps 37:5). The Savior bore this burden for us, teaching us by His example how we also should act. He bears our iniquities and suffers for us (cf. Isa 53:4). He calls those burdened with sins under the light burden of virtue (cf. Mt 11:30). Therefore, whoever does not despair of his brother's salvation, but gives him the hand of needed help, and, as far as he can, weeps with those who weep, is weak with the weak, and counts another's sins as his own, fulfills the law of Christ through such love. Whoever has no mercy and is not clothed in inward compassion and pity does not fulfill the law of Christ, even if he is spiritual. But we must bring this passage into harmony with what precedes it. In this respect the Apostle speaks as if saying: if someone is weak in faith, still nourished with infant milk, and cannot so quickly pass from life under the law to spiritual mysteries, you who are stronger must bear his burden. Otherwise, through your knowledge, the brother for whom Christ died may perish.”