Bearing Burdens: Understanding the Galatians Paradox

Have you ever come across two verses in the Bible that seem to contradict each other and thought, "Wait a minute! What's going on here?" I certainly have! One such apparent contradiction appears in Galatians, where Paul seemingly gives us opposing instructions about burdens.

In Galatians 6:2, Paul tells us, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

But just three verses later in Galatians 6:5, he states, "For every man shall bear his own burden."

So which is it, Paul? Are we supposed to help others with their burdens or let everyone carry their own? Is this a biblical blooper, or is there something deeper at play?

The answer lies in the original Greek text. When Paul wrote these passages, he used two different words for "burden," each with its own distinct meaning.