The Israel Of God
“And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”
This verse has been the subject of a number of interpretations. Is Paul referring to one group or two groups of people? If they are two groups, are they distinct from each other? Could they be, if they are two different groups, the same people? It has been said that this verse refers to Christians and ethnic Israel. Ethnic Israel may also be further limited to elect ethnic Israel, meaning believing Jews. Notice that the text uses the words, “all,” “them,” and “the Israel of God.”
Who are these people? It is immediately clear that the “all” are the “them.” But who are the “Israel of God?” Does this verse mean that only the “all” walk by this rule and not the Israel of God? If so, then the “Israel of God” does not know they are the recipients also of peace and mercy. So what shall we make of this verse? First of all, the “them” is connected to the “Israel of God” by the conjunction “and.” All translations, except the NIV, use “and.” The NIV uses “even.” Therefore, for all those translations with “and,” the reference is to two groups of people: (1) Gentile believers or all in the Church, whether Jew or Gentile; and (2) all believing Jews who are also elect ethnic Israel. The NIV translation of “even” makes the verse refer to one group of people. It is legitimate to translate the Greek conjunction kai as “even.” In this sense the conjunction is explanatory or epexegetical. Thus, the NIV would be saying, “peace and mercy for all who walk by this rule, which is to say, the Israel of God.” The NIV, therefore, is saying that all those who walk according to this rule are the Israel of God.
It is highly unlikely (I believe, virtually impossible) that when Paul refers to the Israel of God, that he is including all Jews whether they believe or not. These people are said to be “of God” and also the recipients of spiritual blessing (peace and mercy). How could unbelieving, Christ-rejecting Jews (or anyone else for that matter) be the recipients of these blessings?
The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that we are not accepted by God on the basis of any work or heritage as a condition. Paul has already pronounced a curse on those who would do so or think in this way (Gal. 1:8, 9). To think in this way is to believe another gospel. It is impossible to imagine that such people would now be the recipients of peace and mercy. Peace and mercy are for those in Christ. Peace and mercy are for those “who walk by this rule” as Paul says. The Israel of God, then, are either (1) Jewish believers, or (2) Gentile and Jewish believers who are the Church, the true Israel of God.
Having said this, what does “this rule” refer to? Taking the broad context, the entire letter to the Galatians could be said to be “this rule.” It is always good practice to examine the near context. Verse 15 is a succinct summary of the entire letter. Verse 15 states, “For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” Paul has been concerned about those who would make circumcision a necessity for salvation for the Gentiles. As far as Paul is concerned, such thinking is a false gospel. It is not a gospel of grace. Verse 15 stresses that ethnic marks have no place in salvation. If a person is circumcised or uncircumcised, this has nothing to do with salvation. It doesn’t count for anything at all. Heritage does not matter to God. It should not matter to us either. It matters whether we are a “new creation,” or not. This applies to Jews or Gentiles. Faith alone in Christ alone is all that matters. Nobody needs to become a Jew (physically circumcised) in order to be a Christian. Obedience to the Law does not save anyone because no one can keep the Law. The Law is a good and holy thing, but its purpose is to reveal sin. To rely on the Law and its requirements for salvation is to place yourself under a curse (Gal. 3:10).
The only thing required for salvation is faith in Christ, and even this is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8-10). In Galatians, the Apostle Paul does a remarkable thing. He argues that Gentile believers who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are the “offspring” or “seed” of Abraham (Gal. 3:16, 29). This means that for Gentiles who believe, the covenant promises of God made to Abraham apply to them. This has nothing to do with circumcision at all. It has no connection to ethnicity or heritage. Acceptance before God is because we are “in Christ.”
Paul says in Galatians 3:7 and 9 that those who are of faith are blessed and belong to Abraham. He also states the promises were made to Abraham and his offspring (Gal. 3:16). Paul does not see Isaac primarily as the offspring of Abraham in this context. It is Jesus Christ who is the offspring of Abraham (Ga. 3:16, 17). It is because we are in Christ, then, that the promises made to Abraham are ours. Ethnicity (Jew or Gentile), gender (male or female), and social standing (slave or free) have nothing to do with it. The covenant promises made to Abraham were intended for one seed, namely, Jesus, and if you are related to him by faith, those covenant promises are yours also.
Someone will object that the Old Testament doesn’t say that. They argue that the promises are only for believing Jews (some argue, for all Jews (believing or not)). But Ephesians 3:4-6 makes it clear that the Gentiles are included as co-heirs with Christ. This is the “mystery of Christ.” Believing Gentiles are “Jewish” only in what matters to God. They are spiritually related to Christ. The real Jew is heart-circumcised (Rom. 2:28, 29). Mere ethnic markings do not make anyone a Christian, neither do they mean the promises are for them. We so often read the Old Testament in isolation from the New. Thus, the Church, which is the Bride of Christ, is the true Israel of God. Believing Jews inherit the promises of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but they are only true Jews because they are “in Christ” by faith. They walk according to the rule that they are not saved by circumcision (or uncircumcision).
It seems natural then to see Paul as making the connection between Jew and Gentile in terms of salvation that is common to both. By doing this, he includes all Gentiles as the true people of God, and it would appear that he really thinks of them as the “Israel of God.” It would seem strange to conclude that only believing Jews are the Israel of God and the Gentiles are not. Paul does not drive a wedge between believing Jew and Gentile. He sees them as one people. They both inherit the promises of Abraham. The promises were made for them through Christ. Paul calls the Galatians “sons” (Gal. 3:7). All the privileges are theirs. They are the “true circumcision” (Phil 3:3).
Israel is no longer a term to define a physical people who dwell in a particular land. Yes, we call the land Israel, and people who live there are Jews, but that is not what Paul is referring to at all. Paul has gone way beyond just reading his Old Testament and applying the promises to Abraham as for ethnic Jews. The promises were always only for believing Jews. An unbelieving Jew was cut off (though circumcised) and exempt. A believing Gentile has all the promises as much as the believing Jew. And it’s all because of Jesus. We have a new identity. We are God’s people and all the New Covenant promises (which include all other covenants) are ours by Christ. Let us walk by this rule. We are a new people. Peace and mercy have come to us.