As in many similar contexts, My brothers may be rendered as “My fellow believers,” or “You who along with me trust Christ.”
Paul’s first application of his general appeal is that of dealing with someone who falls into sin.
Paul’s words here should be interpreted as stating a hypothetical case. This is indicated first of all by the nature of the conditional clause, particularly in the word he uses for “if” (for a similar construction, see 1.8); and secondly, by his use of the generic someone or “anyone.” Yet he probably has in mind a specific situation, in which case, someone would refer to a member of the Christian community. This is the interpretation in some translations (for example, Jerusalem Bible “if one of you”).
The Greek expression translated is caught in any kind of wrongdoing is capable of two interpretations. First, it could mean that someone is doing something wrong and is found out by others (Good News Translation, also New American Bible “is detected in sin”; Knox “found guilty of some fault”). Secondly, it could mean that someone, on a sudden impulse, does something wrong (New English Bible “should do something wrong”; Jerusalem Bible “misbehaves”). Both are possible because the verb which Paul uses here can mean either “detect” or “overtake,” with the element of surprise. If one follows the first interpretation and at the same time must change the passive expression into an active one, it is possible to render the condition as “if some of you discover that someone has done something wrong.” On the basis of the second type of interpretation, the condition may simply be rendered as “if someone does something bad,” or “if someone sins.”
Wrongdoing (literally “trespass” or “transgression”) is best understood here to refer to wrongdoing of any kind.
Those … who are spiritual are those whose lives are guided by the Spirit. This is made clear in some translations (for example, New English Bible “endowed with the Spirit”). As in 5.4, Paul is not referring to all the Galatians, but only to some of them, hence the phrase of you is added in Good News Translation to make this explicit. Those of you who are spiritual may be rendered as “those of you whom the Spirit guides,” or “those of you who do what the Spirit of God says you should do.”
Interpretations of the whole statement vary. Some see in it Paul’s act of contrasting those who are guided by the Spirit with those who are still doing the “works of the flesh.” Others see a tone of irony in the statement, as if Paul is saying, “if you are really spiritual, as you claim to be….” Still others speculate that one party in Galatia called themselves by the name “the spirituals.” The first of these seems to fit the context best, for Paul seems to be challenging his readers, not with any tones of irony, but in a sincere and honest manner.
Those who are in the Spirit should set the wrongdoer right, that is, “help him to stop doing wrong.” But this should be done in a gentle way, literally “in a spirit of gentleness.” (For “gentleness,” see 5.23, where Good News Translation has humility.) In a gentle way may be expressed in some languages negatively as “you must not treat him rough,” but stated positively, one may say “you must be kind to him,” or “you must speak to him with a tender heart.”
Keep an eye on yourselves involves a Greek verb which means “to look at” or “to observe,” but here it probably means “to take care” or “to look out.” One should note that Paul switches from the plural to the singular pronoun at this point. He does this often in his letters (see 4.6-7). But since this admonition is applicable to all the individuals involved, it is normally necessary to continue the use of a plural form, for example, “you (plural) must watch out for yourselves,” or “you (plural) must be careful about your own conduct” (that is, as individuals).
In you will not be tempted, the verb carries with it not only the idea of being attracted to doing wrong, but also the implication of yielding to this attraction. So that you will not be tempted, too may be rendered as “so that you also will not want to do the same kind of thing,” or even “so that you also will not be guilty of doing something bad.”
A more vital question is how to state the relation between the first and second parts of this statement. Some take the connection to be purposive, that is, the purpose for taking care is so that one will not fall into temptation. Others interpret this as a warning, that is, one should take care, or else he will fall into temptation. The first of these interpretations is found in Good News Translation, while the second is found in Revised Standard Version and most other modern translations. The relation of result may be expressed as “for if you are not careful, you will also be tempted to do the same.”
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .