Galatians 6:10

ἔχωμεν אB* 17. ἔχομεν, Text. Rec. with nearly all other authorities. So even in ἐργαζώμεθα, the next word, AB3LP read -ο-. So also Galatians 6:12 διώκονται is read by ACGKLP.

10. ἄρα οὖν, “accordingly therefore”; the “weaker ratiocinative force of ἄρα being supported by the collective power of οὖν” (Ellicott). In the N.T. the combination is found in St Paul’s writings only, and eight times out of twelve in Romans.

ὡς καιρὸν ἔχωμεν. See notes on Textual Criticism. “While we have time,” i.e. ὡς in the sense of ἕως, John 12:35-36. The subjunctive, making the statement indefinite, is found with ὡς here only without ἄν, so that possibly the ω of א*B is a mere error for ο. But see Thackeray, Grammar of O.T. Greek, § 6. 28. See Blass, Gram. § 78. 3. Win.-Schm. § 5. 19. Cf. 2 “Clem. Rom.” 8. ὡς οὖν ἐσμὲν ἐπὶ γῆς, μετανοήσωμεν. ὡς ἂν would be “when,” Romans 15:24; 1 Corinthians 11:34, and, Field thinks (Notes on the Translation of the N.T.), is required if we are to obtain the translation “as we have opportunity.” καιρὸν = a, seasonable time for sowing, cf. Galatians 6:9.

ἐργαζώμεθα (Colossians 3:23 note). τὸ�. More ethical than τὸ καλόν Galatians 6:9, and suggesting kindness.

πρὸς πάντας. For Christian love knows no limitation of object.

μάλιστα δὲ πρὸς τοὺς οἰκείους. So of members of an earthly household, 1 Timothy 5:8. Here of the heavenly as in Ephesians 2:19.

τῆς πίστεως. It is questionable whether the R.V. “toward them that are of the household of the faith “does not say more to English ears than the Greek intended. For “the faith” suggests “the doctrine” about Christ etc. But St Paul may well have meant “faith “generally speaking, τῆς being in reality due to the preceding τοὺς: “unto the members of the household that is characterized by faith.” Faith in God, not “the faith” as a synonym for the Gospel, marks this household; see Luke 18:8, and probably even 2 Thessalonians 3:2. Faith is represented not as the master, nor as the material, of the house, but as a characteristic common to the members. For a somewhat similar genitive see Galatians 2:7.