King James Bible
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
Paul addresses the church family about believers who fall into sin unexpectedly, using 'overtaken' to suggest being caught off-guard rather than deliberate rebellion. The term 'fault' (Greek: paraptoma) indicates a misstep or transgression that requires intervention from the community. Those walking by the Spirit are called to actively restore fallen believers, with 'restore' (Greek: katartizo) meaning to mend or set a broken bone back in place. This assigns responsibility to mature believers while emphasizing restoration over punishment as the goal. The attitude required for restoration work is gentleness and humility, not harsh judgment or superiority. This meekness reflects Christ's own character and prevents the restoration process from causing further spiritual damage. Paul warns that those helping others must guard against pride and recognize their own vulnerability to sin. This self-examination ensures the restorer approaches with humility, knowing they too depend on grace and could easily fall into similar struggles.