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70. Should every man bear his own burden? Galatians 6:5 vs. Galatians 6:2

I’m still not sure if I should be insulted or amused when neighboring scriptures are quoted as contradicting. Surely they don’t think they’re the only ones who noticed in two thousand years?

Galatians 6:5 (King James Version)
For every man shall bear his own burden.

Galatians 6:2 (New King James Version)
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

I quote two different versions because I’m trying to play along.

Before we talk about word choice, let’s talk about Paul-was-not-an-idiot.

Let’s assume, for the sake of conversation, that Paul, the writer, was not inspired by the Spirit of God as he wrote. Let’s assume he was just a dude writing to his students. There’s no way anyone can read the collection of writing we have from Paul and tell me he was dumb enough that he would have so blatantly contradicted himself before re-dipping his quill. So something else would be going on here – Paul would be making a point.

So let’s look at what the poster leaves out: 

Galatians 6:1-5 (NKJV)
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (2) Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (3) For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (4) But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. (5) For each one shall bear his own (burden).

In the passage before this, Paul is telling believers how they should be living and how they should not be living. Paul knows people, however, and how quick we are to point the finger, so he follows up his instruction (to believers) with this little PS about what to do if someone does mess up. 

He admonishes experienced believers and Church leaders to gently support and restore people who have messed up. He even goes so far, in verse three, to basically say that none of us are too good to get our hands a little dirty in someone else’s misfortune or mistake. He reminds us how easy it is to give in to temptation, and hints at how each one of us would like to be treated in that situation.

Then, he attacks our pride and our tendency to compare ourselves with others, and reminds us that ultimately, we are each responsible for what was given us.

That’s all.

Now let’s talk about word choice.

In verse 2, the word “burden,” is the Greek baros, which is a weight sometimes associated with authority.

In verse 5, the word “burden,” is the Greek phortion, which is a freight or cargo with the connotation that it cannot be shifted. The New KJV appropriately translates the word as “load” in verse 5.

There is a difference between a “burden” and a “load” that I don’t think needs enumerating.

Short answer: Yes

Each one of us will bear, carry, and be responsible for, what we are called to. Our load. Our gifts and our calling. The responsibilities we assume.

Each one of us will also mess up, rebel and/or become a kind of collateral damage in someone else’s sin, and find ourselves under a burden that we don’t have the strength to bear. When we meet someone else in that situation, it is not our job to condemn or ridicule, but to stoop down and help him carry it. If that burden is his fault, he will answer for it one day, but that’s beyond your pay grade.