After Paul has written in such forceful language to the Galatians, it is nothing short of the most bitterly asinine nature that a Dispensationalist would place some contrived difference into 'the Israel of God' and those who 'walk by the rule of neither circumcision or non-circumcision being anything, rather New Creation'. But for the record, such an interpretation by the Dispensationalist is not even possible on linguistic grounds. It is all one sentence, and the 'Israel of God' is the direct object of the clause 'as many as walk by this rule (that neither circumcision or non-circumcision are anything in Christ Jesus, but rather New Creation).
The text reads
The syntax of the clause ειρηνη επ αυτους και ελεος is incomplete without its conjoined object τον ισραηλ του θεου. This may be seen by even any first year Koine Greek student by referring to any introductory grammar. It will be noted that αυτους (them) is in the accusative as direct object and τον ισραηλ (the Israel) is in the accusative as direct object. The two direct object nouns are linked with the conjunction και, and therefore act together to form the complete direct object.
Therefore, και should not be rendered as 'and', or 'also', but rather as 'even'. In the sentence, Paul is naming those who hold to the rule that 'neither circumcision or uncircumcision are anything in Christ Jesus, but rather New Creation' as being the Israel of God. And in Paul's usage, there is no other Israel of God but the Israel of New Creation in Christ Jesus with Mercy and Peace upon them. This means that only the Christian is of the Israel of God and that there is no other Israel of God. And if there is no other Israel of God, then physical Israel is not the Israel of God, but rather the church is the Israel of God.
This is not 'replacement theology'. It is fulfillment of the oath to Abraham. And if one doubts that, they apparently have not read or understood much of Galatians, because that is all that Galatians is about.
The text reads
εν γαρ χριστω ιησου ουτε περιτομη τι ισχυει ουτε ακροβυστια αλλα καινη κτισις και οσοι τω κανονι τουτω στοιχησουσιν ειρηνη επ αυτους και ελεος και επι τον ισραηλ του θεου
For in Messiah Jesus, neither circumcision nor non-circumcision are anything, but rather New Creation. And to as many as walk by this Rule, Mercy upon them and Peace even upon the Israel of God. - Gal. 6:15-16
For in Messiah Jesus, neither circumcision nor non-circumcision are anything, but rather New Creation. And to as many as walk by this Rule, Mercy upon them and Peace even upon the Israel of God. - Gal. 6:15-16
The syntax of the clause ειρηνη επ αυτους και ελεος is incomplete without its conjoined object τον ισραηλ του θεου. This may be seen by even any first year Koine Greek student by referring to any introductory grammar. It will be noted that αυτους (them) is in the accusative as direct object and τον ισραηλ (the Israel) is in the accusative as direct object. The two direct object nouns are linked with the conjunction και, and therefore act together to form the complete direct object.
Therefore, και should not be rendered as 'and', or 'also', but rather as 'even'. In the sentence, Paul is naming those who hold to the rule that 'neither circumcision or uncircumcision are anything in Christ Jesus, but rather New Creation' as being the Israel of God. And in Paul's usage, there is no other Israel of God but the Israel of New Creation in Christ Jesus with Mercy and Peace upon them. This means that only the Christian is of the Israel of God and that there is no other Israel of God. And if there is no other Israel of God, then physical Israel is not the Israel of God, but rather the church is the Israel of God.
This is not 'replacement theology'. It is fulfillment of the oath to Abraham. And if one doubts that, they apparently have not read or understood much of Galatians, because that is all that Galatians is about.
Last edited:
