Questions on Galatians

[MH84]

**1. Im sure that others have thought about this first question before. How come it seems that St. Paul says what seems to be two opposite requests in the space of a couple of verses:

6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

then here:

6:4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.

2. In Galatians 3:16 it says:
16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.

But then in Galatians 3:29 it says:
29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Is Paul saying that by faith in Jesus we become “Abraham’s seed” as well? But isnt their only one Seed promised to Abraham as Paul mentioned in 3:16? How come we are seeds as well?

Read here so that the verses are put in more context: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%203;&version=31;

3. Galatians 3:26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Is it true to say that at baptism we have been clothed with Christ as well as having received the Holy Spirit? How come many seem to go in so many sinful directions after Baptism, and/or never seem to be natural believers and followers of God or become spiritual people who are close to God?**

 

[Catholic_Dude]

1. Im sure that others have thought about this first question before. How come it seems that St. Paul says what seems to be two opposite requests in the space of a couple of verses:

6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

then here:

6:4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. 1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.
In the first verse you quote Paul is talking about helping each other get through life when they are facing hardships (love thy neighbor as thyself). In the other verse you quote Paul is continuing with this theme of Galatians which condemns pride and legalism. Paul is saying dont help someone with the mindset that you are superior to them or that you are owed praises for your help, if that is the attitude then quietly limit yourself to your own struggles which will keep you from pride.

2. In Galatians 3:16 it says:
16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.

But then in Galatians 3:29 it says:
29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Is Paul saying that by faith in Jesus we become “Abraham’s seed” as well? But isnt their only one Seed promised to Abraham as Paul mentioned in 3:16? How come we are seeds as well?

It says “if you BELONG to Christ then you are Abraham’s seed” which means we are mystically united to Christ who is the source and root of all the graces we receive and life on.

Read here so that the verses are put in more context: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%203;&version=31;

3. Galatians 3:26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Is it true to say that at baptism we have been clothed with Christ as well as having received the Holy Spirit? How come many seem to go in so many sinful directions after Baptism, and/or never seem to be natural believers and followers of God or become spiritual people who are close to God?

The term “clothed” is figurative, it means we have received the graces in our soul from Christ and this includes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Other verses in Scripture talk about wearing white robes, it signifies a purified soul. People sin after Baptism because they abuse the gifts given to them and good works are not guaranteed after Baptism.

 

[COPLAND_3]

1. Im sure that others have thought about this first question before. How come it seems that St. Paul says what seems to be two opposite requests in the space of a couple of verses:

St. Thomas Aquinas explains the opposite requests…

Hence he says, For every one shall bear his own burden. But this seems contrary to what he had said earlier, namely, Bear ye one another’s burdens.

But it should be known that he was speaking there of the burden of supporting weakness, a burden which we ought to carry one for another; but now he is speaking of the burden of rendering an account. This, everyone will carry for himself, whether it be a burden of reward or of punishment. For “burden” signifies the weight sometimes of punishment, sometimes of reward: “Working for us an eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor 4:17); “Say to the just man that it is well, for he shall eat the fruit of his doings. Woe to the wicked unto evil: for the reward of his hands shall be given him” (Is 3:10). But if some are said to render an account for others, as prelates for subjects, according to Ezechiel (3:20): “I will require his blood at thy hand”; and Hebrews (13:17): “Obey your prelates . . . . for they watch as being to render an account of your souls”; this is not contrary to the words of the Apostle, because they are not punished for the sins of their subjects but for their own, which they committed in ruling them.

Therefore pride and sin are to be avoided, because everyone will present to God on the day of judgment his own burden, i.e., the measure of his own grace as sheaves of good works: “But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves,” and this refers to those who are good (Ps 125:7). Or: will carry his own burden, i.e., each the punishment for his own sin.

And next question…

Is Paul saying that by faith in Jesus we become “Abraham’s seed” as well? But isnt their only one Seed promised to Abraham as Paul mentioned in 3:16? How come we are seeds as well?

Adoption is the key, as St. Thomas points out…

You are the adopted sons of God, because by faith you are united to Christ, Who is the natural Son of God. But Christ is a son of Abraham, as was said above, as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ. Therefore, if you are of Christ, i.e., in Christ, you are the seed of Abraham, i.e., sons, because Christ is his son. And if you are the sons, you are heirs, i.e., the inheritance belongs to you according to the promise made to Abraham: “Not they that are the children of the flesh are the children of God; but they that are the children of the promise are accounted for the seed” (Rom 9:8).

Next question…

Is it true to say that at baptism we have been clothed with Christ as well as having received the Holy Spirit? How come many seem to go in so many sinful directions after Baptism, and/or never seem to be natural believers and followers of God or become spiritual people who are close to God?

Free will for starters. But one must believe in order to actually have a life changing experience. St. Thomas Doctrinally points out…

For baptism comes about only through faith, without which we derive no effect from baptism: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned” (Mk 16:16). … This applies to those who are inwardly clothed with the virtue of Christ: “Put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth” (Eph 4:24). And note that some put on Christ outwardly by good works and inwardly by a renewal of the spirit; and with respect to both they are configured to His holiness,