---
title: Galatians 6:2
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/galatians-6-2/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/galatians-6-2.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Galatians 6:2
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Galatians 6:2

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "Go on carrying the burdens of one another, and in this way you will fulfill the law of the Christ."

## JW Usage

JWs cite "carry the burdens of one another" as scriptural support for the elders' shepherding role and for congregational mutual help. In practice the burden-bearing is mediated through the elders' involvement: a struggling member is encouraged to bring serious matters to the elders, who then determine the appropriate response including reproof or removal where required.

## Protestant Usage

Paul places this command immediately after Galatians 6:1 — "if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness, watching yourself lest you also be tempted". The burden-bearing in view is restorative, not adjudicative. The restorer is enjoined to consider his own fragility — a posture incompatible with the elders' tribunal procedure where the elder serves as judge over the brother. Pair this with James 5:16 (mutual confession aimed at healing) and Hebrews 10:24 (stirring one another up): the New Testament burden-bearing model is horizontal among fellow strugglers, not vertical from a panel down to a probationer. The doorstep insight is gentle: when a baptised brother confesses pornography, scripture's question is "who will help him carry this?" — not "what is his classification?". Same word "discipline"; opposite shapes.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Public Reproof and Comment Performance — A Yoke of Slavery](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/public-reproof-performance-discipline.md) — Galatians 5:1 — For freedom Christ has set us free [Sanctification]