Sheila, those verses can be confusing, that is why we must appeal to the original language to find the difference.
Gal 6:2: the meaning of 'burdens' here is a 'weight' = baros, in Greek. And in the context of the verse, Paul is imploring the Galatian Church that should help carry (or, share) each others' weights. In verse 1, the point is made of a believer overcome by some sin; instead of accusing that person, they should help that person to restoration, & in so doing they would share that burden by their understanding, care & help given to that person. So too, if a believer is worrying, perplexed, or having financial or marital problems, etc., another who is enjoying victory in Christ should quickly volunteer assistance to ease that weight that is getting the sufferer down which may also cause them to grow weak in faith.
Gal 6:5: the Greek here is "phortion" = load. This sounds similar in meaning to the other word, baros, but its use is for the load that we carry ourselves, or as a ship, or truck might carry. These are loads we can't share with another & on a personal level, it means that we have to carry & be responsible for our own loads as we walk along life's road. Paul, I think, is specifically referring to how we maintain our Christian life: are we careful, watchful, prayerful, self-examining, etc.? These are loads we all carry as we try to please the Lord with our lives. And these loads cannot be shared with another - they are for us individually to carry. Yet, Jesus says in Mt 11:30, that His "burden is light". Unlike the heavy burdens the Jewish religious leaders placed on the people, Jesus says that following Him won't be heavy at all, as He (by His Spirit) is there to make our Christian experience light on burden & heavy on joy & peace.
Gal 6:2: the meaning of 'burdens' here is a 'weight' = baros, in Greek. And in the context of the verse, Paul is imploring the Galatian Church that should help carry (or, share) each others' weights. In verse 1, the point is made of a believer overcome by some sin; instead of accusing that person, they should help that person to restoration, & in so doing they would share that burden by their understanding, care & help given to that person. So too, if a believer is worrying, perplexed, or having financial or marital problems, etc., another who is enjoying victory in Christ should quickly volunteer assistance to ease that weight that is getting the sufferer down which may also cause them to grow weak in faith.
Gal 6:5: the Greek here is "phortion" = load. This sounds similar in meaning to the other word, baros, but its use is for the load that we carry ourselves, or as a ship, or truck might carry. These are loads we can't share with another & on a personal level, it means that we have to carry & be responsible for our own loads as we walk along life's road. Paul, I think, is specifically referring to how we maintain our Christian life: are we careful, watchful, prayerful, self-examining, etc.? These are loads we all carry as we try to please the Lord with our lives. And these loads cannot be shared with another - they are for us individually to carry. Yet, Jesus says in Mt 11:30, that His "burden is light". Unlike the heavy burdens the Jewish religious leaders placed on the people, Jesus says that following Him won't be heavy at all, as He (by His Spirit) is there to make our Christian experience light on burden & heavy on joy & peace.
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