Chapter 4 Freeing the Servant’s Family in Galatians 5–6: Paul’s“Isaianic” Explanation of the Freedom of the Servant’s Family  (p. 204-205)


4.1 Overview of the Argument in Galatians 5–6


The final two chapters of Galatians are centered upon Paul’s attempt to describe how the citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem are to live out their freedom in Christ. Confident he has established the scriptural footing for his insistence upon the inability of the Law to make one right with God or govern one’s relationships within the church, Paul now seeks to provide guidance for the Galatians by putting forward the work of the Spirit and the Law of Christ. Paul must not only convince the Galatians that his understanding of the gospel is more faithful to the OT scriptures than that of his opponents; he must also demonstrate the superiority of his vision of the Christian life as ruled by the Spirit and not the Mosaic Law. Satisfied that he has made his case in 5:2–6:10, Paul concludes the letter (6:11-18) by summarizing his key themes and pronouncing a blessing upon“the Israel of God.”

4.2 Instances of Isaianic Influence


By comparison with the previous four chapters, the quantity of Isaianic appropriations is smaller, but their significance remains important. We will once again proceed through each section of Gal 5–6, noting the places where an Isaianic background illuminates the text.

4.2.1 Galatians 5:2-15


Paul begins this section by refocusing the discussion on circumcision, which he clearly understands to be a synecdoche for the whole Law (5:3). Such a submission to the Mosaic Law is a tangible statement that a person no longer relies upon Christ for justification (5:4). Instead the Galatians should wait for the hope of righteousness by faith and in the Spirit, while allowing their faith to work through love (5:5-6). He then returns to criticizing his opponents, culminating in his wish that those troubling the Galatians concerning circumcision would mutilate themselves (5:7-12). Lest anyone conclude that the freedom of the gospel is merely an opportunity for unbridled indulgence of the flesh, Paul summons the Galatians to serve one another through love (5:13). This exhortation rests upon the conviction that the Law is summed up in the command to love one’s neighbor (5:14), and a warning that failure in this area will lead to the destruction of the church (5:15). Within this section two inter-related ideas have strong thematic connections with Isaiah: freedom (5:13) and through love serving one another (5:13).