Gal 6:16 | TNotes | STEP | 6:16 This principle is putting trust in Christ for salvation (6:14-15 ) • they are the new people of God (literally and [or even ] upon the Israel of God ): The Greek conjunction kai , usually translated “and,” often means “even.” If it means and, then the Israel of God is a separate group from all who live by this principle; if it means even, then they are the same group. The Jewish people still have an identity before God (Rom 9:1-5 ; 10:1-4 ; 11:1-32 ). Gentiles who believe have been grafted in, and Jews who disbelieve have been pruned out of the spiritual Israel (Rom 11:17-24 ; cp. Phil 3:2-3 ; Col 2:11-12 ). Paul thus considers all Christians to be the true Israel (see Rom 2:28-29 ; 9:6-8 ; cp. Gal 4:21-31 ). The phrase the Israel of God does not appear elsewhere in the New Testament or in other literature; perhaps the false teachers promised this identification to Gentiles who would accept circumcision. If so, then Paul turned their argument on its head: The believing Gentiles in Galatia didn’t need circumcision, for they were already God’s Israel— his true people

a6:16►

b6:14-15►

cRom 9:1-5►

d10:1-4►

e11:1-32►

fRom 11:17-24►

gPhil 3:2-3►

hCol 2:11-12►

iRom 2:28-29►

j9:6-8►

kGal 4:21-31►

‏ Galatians 6:16

6:16 ^a This principle is putting trust in Christ for salvation (6:14-15 ^b)

• they are the new people of God (literally and [or even] upon the Israel of God): The Greek conjunction kai, usually translated “and,” often means “even.” If it means and, then the Israel of God is a separate group from all who live by this principle; if it means even, then they are the same group. The Jewish people still have an identity before God (Rom 9:1-5 ^c; 10:1-4 ^d; 11:1-32 ^e). Gentiles who believe have been grafted in, and Jews who disbelieve have been pruned out of the spiritual Israel (Rom 11:17-24 ^f; cp. Phil 3:2-3 ^g; Col 2:11-12 ^h). Paul thus considers all Christians to be the true Israel (see Rom 2:28-29 ⁱ; 9:6-8 ^j; cp. Gal 4:21-31 ^k). The phrase the Israel of God does not appear elsewhere in the New Testament or in other literature; perhaps the false teachers promised this identification to Gentiles who would accept circumcision. If so, then Paul turned their argument on its head: The believing Gentiles in Galatia didn’t need circumcision, for they were already God’s Israel—his true people—through faith in Christ.