Galatians 6:4

[ἕκαστος] omitted by B, sahidic.

4. τὸ δὲ ἔργον ἑαυτοῦ. The emphasis lies on “work.” To test oneself (1 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 13:5) might under the circumstances only increase the mental deception. Work as something external can be considered more dispassionately. Also it is his own work that he must test, not that of another. Neque enim si alius perfecte non potest ad Christianismum a Judaismo transire, idcirco tu perfectus es Christianus (Jerome).

δοκιμαζέτω. Although δοκ. in itself is neutral it generally has in the N.T. the connotation of approval, and so here, as is evident from the next clause; see both Lightfoot and Milligan on 1 Thessalonians 2:4. Trench, N.T. Syn. § 74, compares our English expression “tried men.”

[ἕκαστος.] See notes on Textual Criticism.

καὶ τότε: on the presupposition that the result is satisfactory.

εἰς ἑαυτὸν μόνον τὸ καυχημα ἔξει: “his ground for glorying about himself alone.” For καύχημα εἰς cf., besides the next clause, 2 Corinthians 10:16.

καὶ οὐκ εἰς τὸν ἔτερον: “and not about another.” Lit. the other with whom he compares himself. St Paul is condemning the spirit of the Pharisee, Luke 18:11. Luther (p. 282 a) understands it of glorying in being praised by another, but even if this interpretation is possible, it is not so near the thought of the context.