Greek Syntax Study: Galatians 6:15-16 -- και επι τον ισραηλ του θεου (even upon the Israel of God)

[anastasis888]

Greek Syntax Study: Galatians 6:15-16 -- και επι τον ισραηλ του θεου (even upon the Israel of God)

After Paul has written in such zealous language to the churches in the region of Galatia, it is nothing short of astonishing that the Dispensationalist would place some contrived difference between 'the Israel of God' and those who 'walk by the rule of neither circumcision or non-circumcision being anything, rather New Creation'. For the record, such a divisive interpretation by the Dispensationalist is not even possible on syntactical 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

    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

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 Promise to Abraham. For the heirs of the Promise were always the children of the Promise, not children of the flesh.

Edited November 13, 2022 by anastasis888

[anastasis888]

One would think that this would be clear, but in an age of Zionism and Greater Zion Dispensationalism that has strayed so far from the truth of the Gospel of Christ, it must be upheld and stated clearly once again.

Therefore, once more: 

Galatians 3

26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the Promise.

[AdHoc]

On 11/13/2022 at 7:20 PM, anastasis888 said:

Greek Syntax Study: Galatians 6:15-16 -- και επι τον ισραηλ του θεου (even upon the Israel of God)

After Paul has written in such zealous language to the churches in the region of Galatia, it is nothing short of astonishing that the Dispensationalist would place some contrived difference between 'the Israel of God' and those who 'walk by the rule of neither circumcision or non-circumcision being anything, rather New Creation'. For the record, such a divisive interpretation by the Dispensationalist is not even possible on syntactical 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

    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

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 Promise to Abraham. For the heirs of the Promise were always the children of the Promise, not children of the flesh.

I beg to differ. I am not even a first year Koine Greek student but the conjunction "kai" is well rendered "and". The whole Book demands it. Paul has spent six Chapters CONTRASTING those who would be perfected by Law with those who are to be perfected by the Holy Spirit. Two nations are contrasted, two Covenants, Hagar and Sarah, bond and free, circumcision and uncircumcision. One does not say; "I ATE BREAD EVEN BUTTER". It is "bread AND butter". "And" is a conjunction. It is cumulative, copulative and sequential. So also Galatians. After CONTRASTING things throughout, the Holy Spirit wishes blessing on TWO DISTINCT peoples of God - The New Man AND Israel.

[Spiros]

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

true translation:

 

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 Israel of God.

 

τον (ton)

 

is the accusative masculine article, it thus refers to a man, to the man Israel. It is not the state or the nation of Israel if he wanted to refer to the state or country of Israel he would have said:

 

"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 το ισραηλ του θεου" 

επι τον ισραηλ του θεου = (5+80+10)+(300+70+50)+(10+200+100+1+8+30)+(300+70+400)+(9+5+70+400) = 95+420+349+770+484 = 2118

ΤΥΜΦΡΗΣΤΟΣ(Tymfristos or Tymphrestus) = 300 + 400 + 40 + 500 + 100 + 8 + 200 + 300 + 70 + 200 = 2118

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tymfristos

 

On top of(επί) God's Israel , on top of a mountain.  This mountain actually symbolizes the whole of Earth. But if we look into its latitude, apart from being close to the center of Hellas(North-South wise) also seems to relate to one of the 7 Churches of Asia. It is Thyatira. Thyatira through its sequence of appearance in Revelation relates to the fourth day of the week, Wednesday, and through this to the planet Mercury. The ancient Hellenes related this planet to the gods Hermes and Apollo. Apollo was the morning star. 

[Spiros]

ΙΣΡΑΗΛ ΘΕΟΥ = 833 = ΙΑΚΩΒ

Israel (of) God             Jacob